News Release-Hanover County Virginia- Karyn Hale Case

Richmond, VA, October 6, 2010 -  A Hanover County woman, Karyn Hale, was convicted  yesterday on eleven counts of animal cruelty in Hanover County District Court after appealing her original conviction in General District Court on May 17, 2010.

Ten horses were seized on January 12, 2010 by Hanover County Animal Control, assisted by the United States Equine Rescue League, after it was dicovered in a follow up visit by authorities that Hale had failed to follow care and feeding recommendations by a local veterinarian. Hale was sentenced to 180 days in jail for each count with 170 days suspended for a total of 110 days in jail and 2 years probation.

Vews, a 501 (c) 3 non profit organization, was created in to educate the public about proper care of their equines and to rehabilitate and eventually find approved permanent homes for neglected and abused horses and other equines

First Field Trip as USERL Representatives

The first field trip for J.J. and Shalimar was a roaring success! We had a great time and the animals could not have been better representatives for the Society. We arrived at 8 am and stayed til 2 pm and were busy the whole time talking with people and explaining what we do and how they could help. We gave out at least 6 volunteer applications to interested parties and collected $52 for the horses. Thanks to all the volunteers that participated and especially to Jamie for the braiding job and all of her hard work during the day. J.J. had such a good timeshe didn't want to get in the trailer to go home!!

Fund Raising

J.J. and Shalimar will be at a Fund Raiser on Oct 2, 2010 at the Home Depot from 8am to 2 pm. Society funds are at an all time low and we are in desparate need of donations, all of which are tax deductible as the Society is a non Profit corporation.
Come by and see what a little love and your donations have done for these two deserving animals. The before and after pictures will amaze you!
If you can't make it on Saturday, please consider sending a donation to us so that we can continue to help save and rehabilitate these horses. Or if you would like to Volunteer some of your time ( no horse experience is required for many volunteer positions ), foster or adopt one of the horses or sponsor a particular horse please visit the vews web site mentioned above. Thanks to everyone for their support, in advance

Justice in the Prince Edward County Case

For Immediate Release

Jury Recommends 2-year Jail Term for Woman in Animal Cruelty Case in Virginia

Richmond, Virginia. August 12, 2010 - A Circuit Court Jury in Prince Edward County, Virginia found Michelle C. Artese of Prospect, Virginia guilty today of 6 counts of Animal Cruelty and recommended a 24 month jail term and a $11,000.00 fine in the death of one horse and neglect and starvation of 5 other horses.
Artese was originially convicted on 6 counts in Prince Edward County District Court on September 18, 2009. Animal Control assisted by the United States Equine Rescue League, seized 10 horses on a property rented by Artese on February 3, 2009 after one horse was found dead on the property and the remaining 10 were in various stages of neglect and starvation. Artese appealed her conviction to the Circuit Court and requested a jury trial.
All ten horses were turned over to the United States Equine Rescue League after the judge awarded the horses to the county in March 2009. Nine of the horses have been rehabilitated and are now in good health. One of the most severely starved horses, a young colt, was humanely euthanized after he was unable to recover from the neglect that he had suffered.
Formal sentencing is scheduled for October 14, 2010 in Prince Edward County Circuit Court, Farmville, Virginia.
USERL, a 501(c) 3 non-profit organization, was created in 1997 to educate the public about proper care of their equines and to rehabilitate and eventually find homes for neglected and abused horses. With the all volunteer staff, USERL relies on donations to care for and rehabilitate horses in need until they can be placed in a permanent home.

USERL- Richmond Region
PO Box 28378
Richmond, Virginia 23228
http://www.userl-vard.org/

WTKR news coverage of USERL

Here is a link to the news coverage done by WTKR in Tidewater, VA of the recent USERL rescues. Thanks go out to Amy our Tidewater Regional Director and all of theTidewater volunteers for all their hard work and for getting our message out!
http://www.wtkr.com/news/wtkr-horse-rescue-story-dan,0,1444266.story

We understand that this story is now on CNN...way to go team

J.J. and Shalimar

J.J. and Shalimar

We have two new rescues here at our farm. They are temporary fosters at this time but if Sarah has any say in the matter they will be permanent residents. Sarah came today to meet them and of course didn't want to go home. She is returning latter this week to spend 6 days (according to her). J.J and Shalimar came together and wherever J.J.(the pony) goes so does Shalimar (the goat). They are both very cute and well behaved little girls.

Here we go again!

Yesterday USERL was again asked to assist in the rescue of more starving horses, this time in Charles City County. And, like the loving, caring people they are they responded within hours to save another 10 horses from abuse and starvation. That makes 43 horses and a goat (?) rescued this month alone. Our rescue barns are full as are most of the volunteer's barns but we will keep doing what we do!!!! Charges are pending against the owners.

You can see the video of the Channel 8 News coverage at this link http://www.wric.com/global/Category.asp?c=190525&clipId=4982868&topVideoCatNo=92150&autoStart=true

King and Queen County Court Case

The court case held on July 8th in King and Queen County could not have gone better for the horses!!!
In a Plea Bargain the defendants agreed to:
> surrender 33 horses to USERL
> no future ownership of horses
> restitution of $ 500.00 per month to be paid to USERL through K&Q County
> remaining 20 horses to be sold or given away under the county's supervision
> two Haflingers left on the property to recieve immediate Vet care
> husband can continue to train horses but not on his property
> County has free access to the property for future inspections
> animal cruelty charges will still be filed against both husband and wife

This is a great outcome...especially for the horses. The County waited to file the criminal charges until after the seizure hearing so it would not be tied up into the same trial as the criminal charges. This way the horses are not in limbo for months and months and can be adopted out as soon as they are ready.

Yet another great job by the USERL Regional Director and other volunteers...way to go!!! Please consider helping where and how you can. The horses thank you... "when we're hungry...love will keep us alive"

Yet another seizure

Tuesday of this week USERL was asked to assist authorities from King and Queen county, VA in rescuing over two dozen horses including five stallions and at least one pregnant mare. Volunteers worked late into the night to load and transport the horses to safe locations where they will be given the care they need to survive, including Vet and Farriar services. News video can be seen at wtvr.com. There is still a lot of work to do in this regard to get all the horses to the various rehab barns and established in their individual rehab routines.

Please keep in mind that USERL is a non profit organization that operates through volunteers and donations. Our reward is seeing these horses returned to healthy/active animals. Please help where you can with donations of time and/or money. A link to the USERL website can be found below.

USERL 1000 saved

This is an original production from United States Equine Rescue League celebrating the rescue and rehabilitation of 1000 horses. Contact them to volunteer or donate at http://www.userl.org/ or the Richmond Region Chapter at http://www.userl-vard.org/

Eagles- Love will keep us alive( live)

Timothy B Schmit..(sorry no d )

This picture says it all...it is the reason we devote all the time, energy and expense to rescuing abused and neglected horses.

This is 'Coty' and like most of the rescues he was in rough shape when he came into the rehab barn. Now he is back to full weight and health and is being fostered and loved by a 10 year old little girl and her family!

This is what it is all about... thank you Emily...and thanks to everyone who has volunteered, donated and cared!

Preference Farm Video

This video is in memory of "Ingaberry Bey" and is dedicated to Amy J for providing the motivation...Hank