Raising money to help abused horses

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. - An agency dedicated to helping abused horses reached out to the public for help Saturday. Recently, the group came to the aid of abused horses seized on two farms earlier this year.

The Tidewater Chapter of the United States Equine Rescue League (USERL) says 28 horses were rescued last year. That's compared to 70 horses already rescued this year.

Saturday, Lendys in Virginia Beach held a fundraiser to raise awareness.

"We help the horses and we help people care for horses properly," said Amy Woodard from USERL, an organization that provides money to help abused horses.

"My mother always told me anybody can buy a horse, but it takes a lot to keep a horse," said horse owner Taunia Reed.

But this year, the group is strapped for cash.

"We have had over 75 horses come into local areas in need of care since January 2009," added Woodard. "That is about triple the amount we normally have in this amount of time."

Almost half the horses came from two local cases of what police call animal cruelty. Last month, nine horses were taken from a farm in Gloucester. Police say they were being kept in poor conditions.

In January, 30 horses were seized from a farm in Isle of Wight County. Most of them were malnourished. The rescue league helps pay to take care of the horses. They say they're always looking for people to take them in.

"I had seen on WAVY initially the rescue with the helicopter going over Isle of Wight and thought I would like one of those horses," added Reed.

Reed adopted Barbie. She and other horse lovers spend their lives working to give the abused animals new lives.

"It's the greatest feeling in the world to see them when they are happy," said Woodward.

If you would like to help, donate to the organization by clicking on the following link: userl.org