I might still have a career as a clinical researcher, but my true love and purpose is Horse Tales Farm. In 2011, my husband, Jim, and I started an animal rescue organization in Florida, but we moved it to Otto three years ago because my family has owned property here since the 1970s. With Jim having had a stroke in the past, caring for the animals helps keeps him busy as he is not able to do the job he once had as an architectural designer.
How we stumbled upon this rewarding work is interesting. We were helping an 88-year-old man in Lakeland, Fla., who had horses, and one day he asked us if we wanted to purchase his 10-acre farm because he was getting too old to manage it.
That was in 2008, when the recession was affecting everyone. We purchased it and started taking in horses that people just abandoned because they could not take care of them. Some horses would be found just wandering around because the owner had let them out of their fencing.
And then we began also taking in cats and dogs and miniature horses that were neglected or abused. One time we took in some pot-bellied pigs.
The sheriff’s department would call us and tell us about an animal or animals in need, and we would pick them up or someone from the department would drop them off.
However, we are currently maxed out right now at our farm in Otto. We have 11 miniature horses, two quarter horses, three great Pyrenees, two mixed-breed dogs, geese, chickens, and many cats. But in Florida, we had upwards of 30-plus horses, along with other farm animals we were taking care of.
In Florida, we were adopting out animals, but here we are a sanctuary. These animals will always be taken care of here, and we have made arrangements with a local veterinarian and another individual to assume responsibility for Horse Tales Farm when Jim and I can no longer care for the animals – or when we are no longer here. Knowing we have that arrangement gives us great peace of mind. Horse Tales Farm will legally remain a nonprofit.
Horse Tales Farm, Inc. will always be a safe haven for animals in need. We will be expanding and working closely with the Appalachian Humane Society and Macon County Animal Services. We have been supportive to them since we moved to the area, assisting with adoptions and donations, and we will continue to do so.
We are hoping to continue the tradition this coming year of holding an annual animal adoption festival. We had our first festival a year ago at the fairgrounds and it was very successful with adoptions; all animals adopted went home with free beds, food, treats, toys, and more. Needless to say, we had many tears of joy seeing animals adopted to their “furever” homes.
Even though we are not adopting any animals out or taking in any additional animals right now, we always need volunteers and we always need donations to care for them. Volunteers can come and spend time with the animals, help feed, and assist us in keeping their living areas clean. Financial donations mostly help with keeping all the animals fed, but also fund maintenance and repair costs for the barn, fencing, and pens.
I was never able to have children and have always said God put me here to care of animals. So, these precious animals are my children. We love them and love caring for them. We spoil them. The cats have heated and cooled houses. The minis and horses are fed treats daily. The dogs stay in our house, but they also have a fenced-in area to run and play. We love it here next to Coweeta Creek on this shaded, private property, and we think the animals love it, too. We believe in giving them a safe and loving home and care they so much deserve.
Interested in helping at Horse Tales Farm? Call me at (863) 255-7937; or, email me at [email protected].