Earlier this year, Cookie appeared to be depressed – she just wasn’t herself. With her history of cancer, well, I was just concerned. Dr. Specht ran some blood work and some values were all over the place. Then Cookie developed chronic imflammation in her left eye and was put on eye medications which didn’t seem to help. Dr. Specht did a biopsy which came back negative (for cancer). We continued treatments but still didn’t see any improvement over the next couple of weeks. In fact, the eye worsened with the development of an an ulcer.

Cookie Specht 1

Dr. Mangan repeated the biopsy and it also came back negative for SCC – whew! A lavage was placed, which helped to enable us to continue treatment of the eye around the clock with various medications. Still, the eye didn’t respond. Dr. Mangan examined her a few more times, medications were adjusted, and Dr. Specht did another blood test to see how she was doing overall. Her blood test values are thankfully, much better. Dr. Mangan was out again this past weekend and Cookie’s eye has worsened. Her diagnosis – immune mediated marginal ulcerative keratitis. We regrouped and discussed options.

We truly, want what is best for Cookie. Over the course of the past several weeks she’s been adjusting to losing sight in that eye – and she is still adjusting. Since this issue started, we’ve prayed a lot while doing all we can to help the eye heal, but it’s time – we’ve made the decision to have the eye removed. We want Cookie to be comfortable and there are much worse things than losing an eye. Horses adapt and most do just fine. Dr. Mangan will be removing Cookie’s eye next week.

Cookie Mangan 1

Please keep Cookie in your prayers – good thoughts would also be greatly appreciated.

IMG_9434

With just one week remaining until our 8th Annual Celebration of Life/ASPCA Help A Horse Day event on April 22nd, we are hoping that our Village will come forth once again to help us meet our goal of raising $8000. These funds will be used to help pay for Cookie’s surgical/vet fees, spring vaccinations and other needs of our rescue herd, while competing for a chance to win up to $10,000 in grant prizes.

Donations are tax deductible and can be made via our website.  Our PayPal address: bhfer@earthlink.net. If donating via PayPal, please designate your donation for ‘Help A Horse Day.’ If you select the tab for ‘Friends or Family,’ no fees will be deducted from your contribution.

We currently have a $2000 MATCH GAME in progress with $875 still available in matching funds. Once we raise $875, our $2000 Match Game will be complete and will instantly morph into $4000 which is halfway to our targeted goal of $8000! Can we do it? We BELIEVE we can!

As always, thank you all so very much for your love and support.

#helpahorse #bhfer #cookie #donate #matchgame #aspca #believe #ittakesavillage #wecandothis

03/16/17

Little E has been quite the gentleman – he’s been letting Emma borrow his blanket for this cold spell. She’s still having issues in her neck but she is a happy little girl.
Emma Blanket

Magic absolutely loves his blue flymasks!
Magic Blue Mask

Senior citizen Sawyer and little Lucy. The odd couple.

Odd Couple

03/17/17

JoJo and Jazzy patiently waiting at the bottom of the stairs on this cold morning, to wish everyone a “Happy St. Patrick’s Day!”

Donks St Patricks Day

#jojo #jazzy #minidonks #bhfer #magic #emma #sawyer #lucy #donate #charity

February 12th, 2017
Cookie’s eye is worse. Dr. Mangan will be checking it tomorrow when he comes to hopefully, remove the lavage from Magic’s eye.
Cookie Aisle
Almost three years ago, Dr. Mangan performed surgery on Cookie at UF when she had cancer.  He did a great job.  He had to remove much of her lower left lid in order to save the eye and did some pretty amazing reconstructive surgery.
February 16th
Dr. Mangan examined Cookie’s eye over the weekend.  She has an ulcer but she’s really good about having it treated – no lavage needed.  She’s always been a very good girl.  We were concerned that the cancer had returned, but it appears that is not the issue – thankfully.
Cookie Mangan biopsy
February 21st
Dr. Specht was back out yesterday to do a biopsy on Cookie’s eye.  There is an ulcer but it appears that something else is going on.  Please keep Cookie in your prayers.
Cookie Specht 3
February 27th
It’s been overwhelmingly busy here but we want to share the good news – Cookie’s biopsy results came back – it’s not cancer!
Cookie Stall
Cookie needs help with her vet bills. Her eye is still being treated. The healing is slow but at least her eye is no worse and we are very relieved that it’s not SCC!
Donations can be made via PayPal to bhfer@earthlink.net or via various ways on our website at www.bhfer.org.  No amount is too small and all donations are tax deductible and much appreciated. If you’d like to help Cookie, when making a donation, please note that it’s for her. Thank you!
March 7th
Please continue to keep Cookie in your prayers.  I’m sad to report that her eye appears worse.  Dr. Mangan came out and did another biopsy that is going to be sent to a different lab. We’re still concerned that the cancer has returned.

Ride for the Horses 1

Come join us for some fun and meet some of our adoptable horses!  Sign up by clicking here.

March 6th, 2017

I was really disappointed that I was unable to attend the AMVETS Post 444 Poker Run fundraiser for Beauty’s Haven.  Our family had already planned a get-away for the same weekend.  But we hear that it went very well and we truly appreciate their support – they do awesome things for the community!

AMVETS Poker Run

March 9th

A very special five minutes today – Emma was able to go out and graze! She was so happy.  Emma has been getting hand walked throughout the days, but today, she was on her own!

Emma Out

 

02/23/17
Emma’s bandages are off, staples and stitches are out, and she’s sporting her new socks from Sox For Horses! These socks are a great alternative to bandaging and they’re easy to use and maintain!

I have no feeling or sensation in my hands so leg wraps/bandages are difficult for me to put on the horses. I don’t have to stress anymore! Silver Whinny’s are easy to put on and take off! They are a breathing antimicrobial knit that allow airs in, permits free motion of the joint, and inhibits the growth of bacteria, fungi and mold – they create a great environment for wounds to heal! They protect the legs from flies and you can even bathe your horse while they’re wearing these incredible socks.

Many thanks to Sox for Horses for helping Emma! This isn’t the first time we’ve used this amazing product (Silver Whinny’s) and it won’t be the last! Learn more about them at this link – your horse will thank you! http://www.soxforhorses.com/faq_summerwhinnys.html

Emma's Silver Whinny's

02/25/17
Emma totally enjoyed a brief walk outside today. It helped her mental state of mind, I’m sure.

We had to call Dr. Lugo today as Emma experienced a choke. Thankfully, it was cleared. Dr. Porter will be out on Tuesday to examine and likely scope her. The issue could be due to facial nerve paralysis as per the following quote from Dr. Lugo: “The facial nerve might get better with time but it is unknown. I removed a bullet fragment close to the nerve in the hope that it will help. The nerve paralysis is secondary to damage done to the nerve by the bullet.”

Emma Grazing

02/27/17
We are very appreciative of Deputy Wells’ (Levy County Sheriff’s Office) support in Emma’s case. He checked on her again today. It’s encouraging to have someone at LCSO assigned to AG cases who cares about the animals and is committed to doing a good job. We want to raise awareness in the community – if you see or experience an animal in distress, call on Deputy Wells and he will respond! If anyone has a minute – please visit the LCSO’s page, look for Emma’s picture, and leave a “Thank you” comment regarding Emma.
https://www.facebook.com/Levy-County-Sheriffs-Office-107651212629/ 

Emma Deputy Wells LCSO

02/28/17
Emma was really good for Dr. Porter (PHD Veterinary Services) today. He came out to determine why she was coughing. She’d been treated for a mild choke a few days before.  Learn more about Dr. Porter and his services at his website.

Emma Dr Porter 1

Dr. Porter ultra-sounded Emma’s lungs – she has pneumonia. She also has facial nerve paralysis (caused by the bullet) causing upward displacement of the soft palate. He said the paralysis may resolve – to give it six months.

Emma Dr Porter 2

Emma still has moments when she’s reactive when someone approaches her or she hears a loud sound – almost in a panic. But once she has a moment or two to process what is going on, she calms. However, I ask humans that go into her stall to visit with her to go slow and, if Emma retreats or turns her head away, to stop and let Emma give thought to the moment – she will come around in a minute or so. It saddens me to think about what happened to her and how she must have felt – it had to have been terrifying. It’s very sad that any human would hurt any animal.

Hopefully, Emma will overcome her reservations and her unpleasant memories will fade. She is certainly loved, very much. It’s easy for this little filly to grow on you. She makes me laugh when she nuzzles up to my cheek or wraps her neck around me as if to give a hug. We are holding our annual Celebration of Life in April in conjunction with the ASPCA Help a Horse Day – we invite you to come meet Emma and the other members of our beautiful herd!

Emma Cobwebs

#justiceforfillyemma #nevergiveup #believe #rewardoffered #lcso #hsus #bhfer #share #emma #helpahorse #openhouse #celebrationoflife #share

02/24/17

Bolero Horse Adoption Network, sponsored by SpanishHorseTack.com, is composed of Bolero Gaited Horse Adoption Network and Bolero Appaloosa and Spotted Horse Adoption Network. Their members network gaited and spotted horses that are in kill pens destined for slaughter, as well as those that are currently, in horse rescues. The groups were named for Summer’s Bolero, a registered Paso Fino, who ended up in a kill lot in Pennsylvania where he would soon depart for Canada to be slaughtered for human consumption. Because of the efforts of Omega Horse Rescue and over 200 Paso Fino lovers, Bolero was saved from a horrifying death and Bolero Gaited Horse Adoption Network was born.

Emma SpanishHorseTack

We are so very grateful to Tracy Stevens, the owner of SpanishHorseTack.com, for bringing Emma’s story to the attention of Bolero Gaited Horse Adoption Network and Bolero Appaloosa and Spotted Horse Adoption Network, whereupon the members, subsequently, voted to select Emma as one of their monthly donation recipients. Beauty’s Haven is so very honored and blessed by Bolero Horse Adoption Network’s most thoughtful and extremely generous support of Emma, our precious little filly who was so cruelly shot, multiple times, while grazing.

To learn more about this amazing network, please click on the following links:

Bolero Gaited Horse Adoption Network:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/bolerogaitedhorseadoptionnetwork/

Bolero Appaloosa and Spotted Horse Adoption Network:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/BoleroAppaloosaHorseAdoptionNetwork

Sponsored by: www.SpanishHorseTack.com

Friday, February 17th, 2017

Emma is feeling better this evening. I was concerned about her yesterday as she refused her breakfast and didn’t lay down for a nap which was quite unusual as she generally does so a few times throughout the day. She ate some of her lunch and all of her dinner. Then the coughing began. Her temperature was normal and she was drinking normally. When her  bandages were changed yesterday, she wasn’t as cooperative as she normally is – I think she may have been uncomfortable. Perhaps she had strained her knee in the early morning hours.

Last night, Emma didn’t lay down. This morning, she ate breakfast and later laid down for a nap. And nap she did – she snored!  It made me feel better. The way she was laying looked quite uncomfortable to me, but when she awoke, she looked so much better.

Emma Nap1

The way she was laying looked quite uncomfortable to me, but when she awoke, she looked so much better.

Emma Refreshed

Emma coughed approximately four times throughout the day. She ate her lunch and dinner. Tonight, as I was taking Cookie out of the barn, I saw Emma from the corner of my eye, two hooves in the air – she looked like she was doing the “Hi Ho Silver” move! I kept walking and as I got halfway to the gate to turn out Cookie, I heard a big bang. Then I heard the sound of rushing water! Emma kicked the wall hard enough to break a water pipe! I couldn’t help but smile – she’s feeling better! But then I thought, “Oh gosh, she could have hurt herself!” She, thankfully, seems fine and her appetite is great tonight.

Emma K Tape

Emma drooled more today than usual due to facial nerve paralysis. Time will tell how this resolves. Here is a excerpt (quote) from her hospital report:

“The facial nerve might get better with time but it is unknown. I removed a bullet fragment close to the nerve in the hope that it will help. The nerve paralysis is secondary to damage done to the nerve by the bullet.” There are multiple bullet fragments and debris embedded in soft tissue structures in different areas of her body. It may do more harm than good trying to remove them.”

Emma Skull1

The reward funds for information leading to the identification, arrest, and conviction of the person(s) responsible for shooting Emma are now up to $7000. We are so very grateful to the HSUS as well as to Diane and Kathy for assisting us with this. Please share this news in hope that justice will be served.

Emma Dep W

We are very grateful to the Levy County Sheriff’s Office. Deputy Wells (AG Deputy) has been out a couple of times to check on Emma. It’s quite unusual to get this kind of support, but now that the county has an AG Deputy, I do believe support for horses and livestock has taken a turn for the better! Deputy Wells really cares and I’m looking forward to working with him on future cases, albeit I wish there were none. The County is very limited in resources when it comes to abuse/neglect cases, but with help from the community, perhaps we can help to change that!

#justiceforfillyemma #rewardoffered #hsus #bhfer #lcso

February 16th, 2017

Emma – the 3 year old filly that was shot.  She has undergone surgery to remove bullets and fragments and is currently recuperating back at the rescue.

Emma Eye

Emma is really good for her bandage changes as well as taking her medications. So far, all looks good. The swelling in her knee has actually gone down a little. She’s such a good girl!

Emma Bandage Change 1

Dr. Julia Simonson came to do accupuncture on Emma yesterday, but Emma is still too sore. We didn’t want to stress her, so we opted to wait another week. But Dr. Julia did use Kinesiology tape. Sometimes, the physical therapist uses it on me and it really does help.

Emma Tape

Emma loves to stretch! She does her daily stretches and she stretches each time her bandages are changed!

Emma Stretch 1

Emma was great for her interview with WJCB’s Kelly Gonzalez yesterday. Please click here to watch the interview.

Emma News Interview

Emma now has her own Facebook page!  We hope you join us there for updates and photos. Help us spread the word that there’s a $2000 reward offered for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the person(s) who assaulted Emma.

Emma Banner

If anyone would like to make a donation to help Emma or other horses here our PayPal is bhfer@earthlink.net.  There are other ways to donate via our website.  No amount is too small and all donations are greatly appreciated.  Thank you.

#justiceforfillyemma #rewardoffered #bhfer #share

February 14th, 2017

When I said we’ve been busy working on finding a path to justice for Emma, I meant it. This little filly suffered and it wasn’t shotgun pellets that got her – it was bullets. When I met with the surgeon, read his report, and saw the evidence – I was overwhelmed with sadness and anger. I had to step back for a bit and regroup. But Emma is healing and it’s time to move forward.

We want to thank Deputy “Bubba” Wells of the Levy County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO) for his time and effort in working this case. And a huge “Thank You!” goes out to the LCSO for not closing the door on this case – they are doing the right thing and we commend them. We are a small, rural community and resources are scarce – we are very grateful that they are standing behind Emma and pursuing the case. I know it’s not likely the person(s) that did this to Emma will be identified but I also know it’s not impossible. I choose to believe that we will.

We also want to thank Dr. Sausville for reaching out to us to help Emma – she’s a very special little filly. He saw that she wasn’t going to give in or give up. She’s not “just a horse” and he gets it.

A reward in the amount of $1200 is offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction person(s) involved in shooting Emma. We are offering $1000 and a donor is chipping in $200. However, by the end of the week we expect the reward to be increased to $6200. What happened to her was cruel and totally inhumane. If you have any information regarding this incident please call the LCSO or Deputy Wells at 352-486-5111.

I’m going to start sharing some of the issues that Emma had to live with for almost a month before coming to us. We will be publishing a Facebook page just for Emma and everyone is invited. I’ll post a link when it is ready which, hopefully, will be tomorrow.

I’ll never forget when I saw Emma in the first photo – lazy ear (due to nerve damage) and head down. To see her now, head held high with bright eyes, it’s just a wonderful feeling! Believe…

Emma Down Up

If anyone would like to make a donation to add to the reward amount please contact us. #justiceforfillyemma #believe #bhfer #horsesareheros #eaglerarelife