[ View Opportunities ]

Last updated on May 14, 2008

Our mission is ensuring quality care and treatment of horses through rehabilitation, humane education and community outreach.

Description:
Before Days End Farm Horse Rescue, horses in Maryland and the surrounding area were generally not impounded by animal control because no one had the capabilities or expertise to shelter and rehabilitate them. Historically, in cases where officials decided that horses were being neglected or abused, owners were ordered to sell or euthanize the animal. Over the past 15 years, Days End has been successful in providing shelter to horses from the Mid-Atlantic Region that would otherwise suffer or perish.

Days End receives horses impounded by animal control, due to severe instances of abuse or neglect, from Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, Delaware and Pennsylvania. Incoming horses are immediately placed in our critical care facility where they receive 24-hour monitoring and medical attention including veterinary visits, hoof care (farrier visits), medicines and vaccines, a specialized diet plan, grooming, and emergency surgical procedures (if necessary). The state of newly admitted horses varies, but most suffer from one or more of the following: starvation (or malnutrition), parasite infestation, lack of medical care, physical abuse, and painful or crippling ailments. The 'recovery cost' per horse is contingent upon their physical condition, but the average expense per animal per month is $500 while in critical condition and then $300 during the extended care and maintenance period. Once horses have graduated to an extended care and maintenance program, they are eligible for our 'Foster Care Program' and eventually, adoption to qualified homes. Days End tracks all adoptions annually (up to three years) to ensure each animal receives proper treatment and a safe home environment.

Programmatic success encompasses not only the physical rescue of equines, but also the extent to which it fosters cooperation and collaboration amongst a broad cross-section of agencies - animal welfare, human welfare, veterinarians, law enforcement and communities.

Days End, through its humane education programs, provides seminars/programs to children, adults, animal care workers, animal control officers and horse owners, and emphasizes the importance of humane treatment of animals - possibly and hopefully - preventing future violence to human beings. As part of the programs discussion, individuals are told about the Cycle of Violence (the link of animal abuse and how it relates to child abuse and domestic violence). The programs also include talks on: cruelty investigations, disaster preparedness/relief, and horse care.

Days End makes itself available to the community as a rescue resource venue for people performing community service, and school groups. We also give talks to local community groups. Recently, Days End has worked in conjunction with HSUS to assist with local disaster situations.

In addition to providing rescue, housing, rehabilitative care and adoption to impounded (by Animal Control and Humane Agencies), abused and neglected equines, Days End is the only rescue in the State of Maryland that assists in the prosecution of owners (to the fullest extent of the law) through our documentation and expert testimony in court.

In its 15 years in existence, Days End has earned the support of animal control officials, humane organizations and professional animal care workers both locally and nationally. Our goal is not only to intervene in and ameliorate disaster situations, but also to educate the public in order to avoid neglect as a result of ignorance. Days End relies totally on grants and donations from the public to perform necessary recovery/retraining of our equines, as well as the support of our education and outreach programs.

History:
The founders of Days End Farm Horse Rescue, Inc., Kathleen and Allan Schwartz, began with a dream, their own financial resources, their 10 acre farmette and a horse named "Toby." Toby was a 16 hand quarterhorse that shared a boarding facility with the Schwartz's horses. Whenever the Schwartzes were tending to their own horses' needs, Toby would approach the gate to the field and beg for attention, theirs or anyone's. During the time the Schwartzes boarded their horses at that facility, Toby began declining in health until he was a mere skeleton. The Schwartzes and other borders fed him whenever they were visiting their own horses. It wasn't enough, and the Schwartzes became increasingly alarmed about his condition. They spoke to the owner of the facility and asked her to contact Toby's owner with an offer from them to take over care of the horse. The Schwartz's offer of help for Toby was accepted and Toby was moved to Days End Farm.
A veterinarian was consulted and he offered little hope for the buckskin gelding. A mere 650 pounds, Toby had to be assisted into a standing position whenever he laid down to rest because he was too weak to get up. Toby had a light of hope in his eye that was seen by Kathleen and Allan, and as long as Toby was willing to continue fighting for his life, they would continue to help him on his road to recovery. Following a year and a half battle, and a lot of love and attention, Toby recovered and became a loved lesson horse at Days End Farm.

The satisfaction gained from bringing Toby back to health, and the symbiotic bond created between Toby, Kathleen and Allan, gave their life new meaning. This was the beginning of Days End Farm Horse Rescue, Inc. Kathleen and Allan Schwartz started this organization without any idea of its impact on either their lives or their finances. Only with help from family, friends and many supporters is Days End able to continue to maintain itself and grow. Days End is a volunteer-based, non-profit, humane organization established in 1989 to ensure quality care and treatment of horses through rehabilitation, humane education and community outreach. It is the first such organization in the State of Maryland. Days End has been licensed by the Maryland Department of Agriculture since 1991 and has been actively working with animal control authorities since 1991. Kathleen and Allan Schwartz live on the premises, providing 24-hour care. Days End is an active member of P.A.W.S. (Professional Animal Workers) and the Maryland Horse Council. Supporters include a network of over 10,000 individuals, organizations, and businesses, both foreign and domestic.

Contact people:

DeEtte Gorrie, Volunteer Coordinator, (phone), (email) Kathleen Howe, Executive Director, (phone), (email) Heather Napolitano, Office Manager, (phone), (email) Brooke Vrany, Director Of Programs And EMG Services, (phone), (email)

Office fax number: (301) 854-5146

Address:

1372 Woodbine Road Woodbine, MD 21797 (See a map)

Web Site: http://www.defhr.org

Directions:

Take I-70 to Exit 73 (Woodbine/Lisbon) Route 94. Go south on Route 94. At traffic circle go straight. The Farm is approximately 1/4 mile on right, just past the fire station.

---

Be the first person to offer feedback on this agency!
Post a volunteer reflection to share your experiences with other volunteers!