TAHOE

GIVEN SECOND CHANCE

BY

RESCUE ANGELS

by Linda Olson

On Tuesday, August 2, I sent an email enquiry regarding a horse at a feedlot in Benton City which read. . . “Would a horse like Tahoe have a chance at being adopted after being sponsored, vetted, and healed?  Do you have a vet that would take a look at that leg to see what the problem really is?  Is he in danger of being shipped on Wednesday?”

On Wednesday, August 3, I received an answer. . .  “If you’d like to do a partial sponsor I will ask anyone who is interested in sponsoring a horse if they’d like to go in with you on him.”

The slaughter truck was coming that day. He was the only one that hadn’t yet been adopted or sponsored. His picture had been haunting me for days. He had such kind eyes and I just felt that there was a special, sensitive, gentle and understanding soul in there. The feeling that he deserved a chance to heal and continue on with his life was very clear to me.

A “yes” came from deep within even before I had thought about it. I was quite surprised at the intensity and the assuredness with which it came. I did not have money to sponsor a horse that month and was facing some rather large vet bills for my dogs. It was only later that I began to second guess myself and worry about how I was going to make it through the month’s expenses. I had just helped sponsor a 3-legged injured horse. How insane was that?

On Saturday, August 6, Tahoe was moved off the feedlot and into a 30-day quarantine (required of all feedlot horses being sponsored and/or fostered). With that message came the new concern that maybe his injured leg was not an abscess waiting to break as everyone had thought. A state vet visiting the horses suggested that maybe there might be something broken. A vet appointment with a portable x-ray machine was made.

I had spent the week wondering about him. A 3-legged horse in a feedlot is just plain cruel.  What had happened to him?  Why hadn’t his previous owner helped him?  What could be done now. . . and. . .at what cost? What was the most right decision?

My reply was that they should try to do what they could for him. I felt that given the proper treatment, he would recover enough and could live out his life peacefully. But, if he needed to be put down, then please have him humanely euthanized. He shouldn’t have to die a slaughter house death. If I was reading him right, he would make a good patient and would work with his handlers and those trying to help him. . .he would know. We aren’t all perfect. . .and, he doesn’t need to be either. He’s young and has time to recover if somebody will give him that chance.

The risk in any rescue work is that you don’t really know what is wrong until you take them home.  There is no time for second guessing with feedlot horses and shelter dogs. There are going to be some failures and some that you just can’t help. Others will be the lucky ones and will find the help that is needed and the understanding and love to finish out their lifetime. 

Monday, August 15, the results of the 1^st x-ray came. It appeared that he had damaged ligaments and suspensory (torn) and this vet recommended he be put down.

This wasn’t the news that anyone wanted to hear. My feeling was that W.S.U. (Washington State University Department of Veterinary Medicine) needed to be contacted because if there was any hope, it may reside there.  There are so many difficult decisions when dealing with medical rescues.  When do you put a lot of money into one when that money could be used to save so many others?

A 2^nd vet was called in for consultation. The original x-rays were forwarded.  We three sponsors were introduced to each other via email. 

Sunday, August 21, one of the other sponsors took a road trip to the Yakima area where Tahoe was quarantined. It was a very hot day (around 100 degrees and the car air conditioner broke during the trip!!!). We were all hoping for good news, but all the news was not good.

In quarantine, Tahoe had his own small pen, automatic fresh water and plenty of fresh hay. He also had plenty of company with other quarantined horses in other pens. But, he didn’t have any shade.  He only used his injured leg to balance himself. He hopped around on 3 legs. She went in and talked to him, brushed him, and he allowed her to rub his injured leg.  He was in pain. As she left, he went and laid down in the dirt.

His foster mom had kind and gentle words about him and they talked about his options. She was not optimistic about his leg and wanted a decision  made as soon as possible to help him with his pain or to put him out of his pain. She and a friend would euthanize him and bury him down by the willow trees if wanted. But, if surgery could be scheduled in the next week or so and a vet could come out and treat him, then that would be acceptable. And if not, then it was her opinion that he be put down. The medical sponsor was close to agreeing.  But, something inside her told her to wait.   
We learned that Tahoe’s injury was a chronic one. . .meaning that it had happened several times and/or worsened over the years (he’s young, maybe 3 - 5 years). Both vets agreed that if he had gotten treatment with the original injury, it wouldn’t have progressed to this point. Lack of owner responsibility still gets to me. You see it all the time in pet rescue. I’ve got 2 special needs dogs that if their problems had been addressed early on, they could have led relatively pain-free and active physical lives.  But, instead, issues were not addressed and later they were thrown away because of the issues as if it didn’t matter. But, it did matter. . .to them. . .and to me who eventually found them and took them home.

Tahoe’s life now rested squarely on the sponsor who had agreed to pay the vet bills before she knew how bad the injury was and what would be required to fix it. The e-mails started flying.

None of us had enough money to pay for a possible surgery. It was now looking like the only real option was to have him put down, baring a miracle.

Did I say m-i-r-a-c-l-e? 

On Friday, August 26, a W.S.U. vet responded that he would like to see Tahoe’s x-rays.  He said that this kind of surgery was not all that uncommon and that horses often go on to be not only rideable but can even return to being performance horses.  The vet also wanted to see Tahoe in person.  He felt that the 4-hr. ride from Yakima to Pullman, WA, would be OK for the 3-legged guy. Surgery could be scheduled the next week. Someone who lived about one hour from W.S.U. had stepped forward and offered him a foster home for recuperation. After that, another foster home would take him for a long-term commitment when he was well enough to travel to the coast.

Tuesday, August 30, the same sponsor went to visit Tahoe again. She was a little hesitant to see him a second time  and thought his condition would have deteriorated. To her surprise, he seemed in better spirits and was much more alert. Of course, it was only in the 80s. . .and . . .20 degrees can make a whole lot of difference! He was haltered, brushed, and his leg massaged. He enjoyed the attention. When let loose afterwards, he gave a little 3-legged buck-hop and handicapped kick. Yes, he was feeling pretty good.

Wednesday, September 7^th, two friends began their day at 4:00 a.m. and by 6:30 a.m. were on the road headed to W.S.U. in Pullman, Washington with Tahoe in the trailer.  Dr. Farnsworth (one of the premiere vets in the U.S.) met them at 11:00 a.m. for the much-awaited vet appointment.  It was decided that an ultrasound was needed.

Tahoe was led into a round padded room, shaved, and prepped.  He didn’t bat an eyelash. (Now I need to remind you, this is a rescue horse.  History unknown. For all of us, his history began at the feedlot.)  Another vet joined them. And, another vet (who just happened to be there that day) was called for consultation. . .and, who just happened to specialize in corrective shoeing. 

Tahoe was sedated for the ultrasound and was the perfect gentlemen.  However, every time they touched his injured leg, he would lift it up for them. But, what they wanted was for him to hold it down so they could get a better angle for the ultrasound.  Poor guy. He was only trying to do what he thought the vets wanted! The vets finally had to kneel down and put Tahoe’s leg on their knees in order to get the ultrasound completed.

When the results were analyzed, the good news was that there were no torn muscles/ligaments.  Bad news was that the ligament that connects the joint to the hoof and keeps the leg straight and the toe on the ground was stretched and would never contract back to its normal shape and size.

It was thought that maybe corrective wedge shoes could correct the problem without surgery.  So, the horseshoeing vet proceeded to put the special shoes on his front feet. If that helped him in the next few days, there might be a chance that he would heal sufficiently and not need the surgery.  If not, the shoes would help him distribute his weight a little better and take some pressure off the injury while he waited for surgery. 

The best solution and what would give Tahoe the best chance at recovery would be surgery to fuse the joint. Even with the wedge shoes, if Tahoe were to walk on anything other than level ground, there was always the risk that he might twist his foot/leg and would permanently damage the joint/muscles.  And, given that he is so young, he’s got a lot of bucks and fandangles in there that are just going to have to come out!

The telephone calls were flying back and forth across the state all day between the C.B.E.R. representative and the sponsors.  Another vet entered the picture.  It was decided it was in Tahoe’s best interest to leave him at W.S.U. and schedule the surgery the next week.  But, if W.S.U. thought the wedge shoes were doing the job, then they would cancel the surgery.

As the two transporters left to go home with their empty trailer, thoughts were racing through their minds. Same thoughts we’d all had before.  But, there was just something about this horse.  Tahoe had been such a gentleman all day.  He did absolutely everything that was asked of him without any hesitation.  All day he had put his nose in the crook of Wendy’s arm and rested his head against her shoulder. It wasn’t fair to Tahoe if we didn’t try. 

Weighing the odds of waiting against going ahead, it made more sense to go ahead as it would be less complicated with fusing only one place, less chance for things to go wrong, and perhaps less recovery time. When thinking about a possible re-injury with just the special wedge shoes, it just made more sense to schedule the surgery.

Wednesday, September 14, Tahoe went into surgery. Everything went well. He tolerated the sedation, the anesthesia, the surgery, the recovery phase, and the cast.  He was the perfect gentleman and cooperated with his handlers. His surgery leg was swelling which was normal and he was tolerating the antibiotics. It looked very good.

Friday, September 23, I went to W.S.U. to see Tahoe myself.  He was everything I thought he would be. And, he was such a good boy. All of his handlers like him and can’t believe he is a feedlot rescue horse. He is working with his handlers and his vets.

The previous day they had wrapped the other front leg as well and added more padding on the bottom of the foot to raise it to the level of the casted leg. He had been using that leg all this time to balance himself and all his body weight had been supported by that one good front leg. It was finally beginning to show some strain and swelling had begun. Hence, the wrap. It did make a big difference and was a very positive move. By also adding more rise to the good leg, that also took some of the pressure off both front legs. The wedge shoe plus the cast puts a pretty good angle on that leg. . .like wearing high heels. The reason for angling the leg that way is to take the pressure off the surgical fusion area so it can heal.

Thursday, September 29, W.S.U. called to say that they had taken the cast off of Tahoe’s leg, x-rayed it again, and recast the leg. His is a textbook case. It’s about as good as it gets. He is healing exactly as they wanted. The prognosis is very, very good.

Tahoe will remain at W.S.U. for another 3 – 4 weeks until he is ready to safely travel across state to his foster home. There, he will be given the time and space for a lengthy recuperation. 

In the many weeks leading up to the decision to give Tahoe his W.S.U. chance, all of us had to make some agonizing decisions. There finally came a time when I realized that I had made a sacred commitment. This whole process is not what I had expected at all. But, I finally saw that this was the right horse, the right time, and the right decision. There is a vast unknown that lies beyond today. . .but, I knew that somehow, Tahoe and the 3 of us will get through that, too.

RESCUE

Rescue isn’t just about saving animals. It’s also about going deep within yourself. There are lessons involved with each rescue that you can’t possibly predict and never expected. Knowing my personal situation, my finances, my bills, etc., there was no way that I knew I could fund such vet expenses. . .and, wrestled with the idea that there would be long-term care and possibly fostering expenses thereafter for an unknown amount of time.  Spending that kind of money on one horse when so many others needed help was a huge obstacle in my thinking. . .even though I have done it time and time again with my special-needs dogs.

What had happened to me in the course of these past weeks is that I had come to the understanding that I, too, am a part of the Divine Plan intertwined around this horse we call Tahoe.  I arrived on the scene just at the time he arrived at the feedlot. When I got the call to help with sponsorship, a “yes” came out of my soul even before I had a chance to fully formulate a response with my mind. The sponsorship money came out of my monthly living fund. The emotional roller-coaster ride of finding out what was wrong with him was a huge lesson in learning to listen carefully to my own inner guidance and a knowing I couldn’t explain that he would heal, that W.S.U. was going to play a part in it, and that he would know and would work with his healers, and that his life was not yet meant to end. 

In the beginning I only expected to have the initial layout of funds and possibly some additional support monies as I was able. However, I now knew that I just didn’t commit to the original donation, I also committed myself to “going the distance.” I was not alone in this. There were two others who were also called. AND, when I got to that point, all kinds of ideas for fund raising arose.  When the inner understanding comes and the inner commitment becomes an outward manifestation, then the next step becomes visible and a course of action is born.

I believe that Tahoe is one of those animals that come into our lives as a blessing. They bring inner growth, an increased awareness of who and what we are, our humanness, and what it means to listen to our heart centers instead of our logical minds. We are learning discrimination, values, inner guidance, and how to L-O-V-E beyond our own fears and comfort zones. We are being stretched as an individual and as rescuers. . .and, as a small group who have seen into the heart and soul of this horse called Tahoe.

I recently asked C.B.E.R. (Columbian Basin Equine Rescue) why they chose to list Tahoe on their website. They told me that he was listed based on his personality. He was very sweet and wanted nothing more than to be close to you. He hobbled around the feedlot on his 3 good legs following them everywhere. They all thought he had an abscess that would break and heal up quickly. 

The C.B.E.R. mission statement and focus is to rescue horses that are sound or serviceably sound.  Tahoe was not. But, they hoped his injury was an easy fix.  It was his personality, willingness, and his inner character that moved them. They decided to put his picture on the website and give him a chance. And, what happened from there is the story you have just read.

He’s still at W.S.U. and will remain there for awhile. This was an expensive surgery, especially for a rescue horse with no owner. We three sponsors are contributing what we can and garage sales and assorted fund raisers are being created.  However, paying off his medical bills will most likely come down to the $5.00, $10.00, $25.00 donations given by other rescuers and interested supporters.

So, here’s your chance to help.  Donations can be sent via Pay Pal account at cbertahoe@yahoo.com or mailed to C.B.E.R., 20502 Ruppert Rd., Benton City, WA 99320.  Updates on Tahoe can be read on their website www.columbiabasinequinerescue.org.   As of October 3^rd, his message board post had been read 2,976 times.  Not bad for a horse whose previous owner hauled the injured 3-legged horse to auction knowing that he would be bought by the meat buyers for slaughter. From the auction ring he was bumped and shoved and stuffed into a trailer with lots of strange horses and trucked to the feedlot where he was mixed in with many more horses, some wild, all stressful and harsh conditions for an injured 3-legged horse who could not defend himself nor get out of the way of the pushy ones.

Tahoe’s story has not yet ended. It has many more chapters. Currently, he is in need of donations for his W.S.U. medical expenses.  If you would like to be a part of his story and can find it within your heart to help, it really is needed. Any amount will be very much appreciated. And, if not, thank you for reading this article.  Perhaps the future might bring you a different opportunity to help another. There are so many more just like him waiting for you to find them. And, it’s a journey that will bring you closer to your inner-self and what it means go beyond your fears and to love without boundaries. . .a journey I highly recommend.