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ASAP Farm Discovers They Have Lost A Member

Well, I guess that Monday, February 21 started out well. The kids were off to school, and Craig and I prioritized our day. We knew that we needed to go and enforce our ASAP mission to protect each and every horse coming placed in our program, and that means sometimes confronting people who have both broken their placement contract and recovering horses who have been disposed of as a result of it.

After answering emails and feeding animals, we hopped in our truck and drove to Amish country. Thankfully, there were adopters on their way from way across the state of Wisconsin with a trailer. They had wanted to adopt this horse in 2002 when they first laid eyes on her. Now their dream was about to come true.

We drove into the Amish gentleman's driveway for the third time since it was discovered that a STB mare had been sold to him. The first encounter was polite but got us nowhere. The second encounter was better, but how would anyone feel if they found out that they had gotten a horse from dishonest people who had never admitted that they had an ASAP horse? How does ASAP handle it when they must go to recover their property? This Amish man had a difficult time making eye contact with us as we showed him proof of ownership and registration papers, in addition to the contract that the adopter signed at the time of adoption. He stood in disbelief....unable to comprehend why seemingly honest people could be so blatantly dishonest. After a civil conversation, the Amish man decided that he would try to hard-ball us and not allow the mare to leave his farm. My wonderful husband kindly and gently explained that he could either release the horse or we could call the sheriff to assist us. He would have to take up any issues related to the horse with the people who sold her to him. The Amish man did not want the sheriff called. My husband suggested that we could write him a check, and how much was it worth to him? The Amish gentleman named his price and Craig wrote out the check. I looked at him with fire in my eyes - why would anyone feel like they needed to pay this man to get a horse that was ASAP's horse?????????????? Nevertheless I am learning that my husband knows best in a lot of situation so I let it fly. At least we found her. At least we got her out.
At least now justice has been done.

On to the next Amish farm. This was a bit different. The woman who met Craig at the door was suspicious, anxious, and not welcoming. Craig explained the situation about the other mare that the same adopting couple had sold (these adopters had a total of three horses from ASAP). The woman explained that she had received a letter from me with copies of the placement contract and proof of ownership. She explained that the gentleman had purchased this mare because there was an ad in the paper listing her for sale. He had never been told that his was an ASAP horse. He paid $1,100 for this mare (the adopters paid less than HALF of that to adopt her) and would demand that he be compensated for the dishonesty. Our feeling was that it was not ASAP that they were angry with - the anger was pointed in the entirely right direction. Although we could not see the mare that day, I did walk around back and saw a well-fed Paint horse. There were golden Belgian drafts grazing in the field next to the property. I stepped back up between the two barns and peered behind a fence. I saw something lying cold and dead in the snow. At first glance I was sure it was a cow - but as I slowly approached to get a closer look, I stumbled back with disgust. It was a dead horse. Any dead animal is a wrench to my spirit, but the sight of a dead horse lying there without a grave or second thought made me sick. I jumped back into the truck, and am anxious to go back to recover the mare that these people innocently purchased. After five hours on the road, my husband and I were ready to go home to do chores. We had accomplished recovering two of three horses.

To what extent do we go to uphold the terms of the placement contract that everyone signs? I guess by reading this you have an idea...

Exhausted, we came home to start our evening work. Haiaku got his splint on a little bit late, but decided I would leave it on until I went to bed. Asha, who cut her foot open last week on some unknown object, was unwrapped and got a clean bill of health to return to her turnout. I walked back by the shed to scoop up some more grain, and thought something sounded odd. It was the sound of no sound coming from the pig hut. Usually Sarahpig is snoring so loudly that it raises the roof........I immediately climbed over the panel and into the pig hut to see Sarahpig. She looked so peaceful, lying there in her usual position. I poked her. No breathing. No snoring. No sound. She was simply and quietly... gone. I jerked my head around to see Freedompig get up from Sarahpig's side and go out to eat. It was so sad... Freedom's companion was gone... and we had to block her from going back in to lie next to Sarah. Freedom did not understand this and was angry and confused. We consoled her as best as one can console a pot-bellied pig, and my son Jordan and I coaxed her into the barn and into a stall with Asha. I bedded her down deep. For the first time in so many years, tonight Freedompig will sleep alone. I feel so sorry for her.

So this winter has found us with two losses: My classroom rat "Peep" who left us a month ago, and now Sarahpig. Although I did not cry at her loss, I felt it deeply. I explained her death as "old age" to the younger of my children as they climbed into bed. An hour after tucking them in, my youngest Rachel could be heard sobbing loudly. We ran in and hugged her and asked her what was wrong. She was remembering the little orphan kitten who had been accidentally run over last summer by a new volunteer as little Rachel watched. I guess Sarah's passing triggered that horrible memory of the little kitten as the wheel rolled over her and she lie motionless in the driveway. I guess death goes against all of our spirits... still it is so easy for me to believe that our Creator and Heavenly Father loves each and every creature entrusted to our care, and I reassured Rachel that He is there to meet all of His little animals in His arms and keep them in His care until we can see them again someday.

I want to thank Barbara Cunningham for her donation towards care of Squire One!
You are such a caring owner - wish all were like you! Also thanks to Charles Rusiecki and Kenny Selmer for their donations - oh, Ken, you have been a faithful giver since the days of Arlene Nystrom and we love you for it!

Lots of horses finding homes right now which we are grateful for, and many more coming in as others leave. More soon!

Love,
Susan

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