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Here are some of the most
frequently asked questions about Happy Trails. |
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Q: How do you
obtain the animals that come to Happy Trails? |
A:
Happy Trail's intake criteria is that
the farm animal or horse has been removed from a situation of abuse,
neglect or abandonment by a humane officer, sheriff, or other law
enforcement officer. Many of them are involved with court cases and have
cruelty charges pending against their previous owners. Happy
Trails does not take in owner surrenders from situations where an owner
simply wants to get rid of their farm pet or horse for any reason.
Happy Trails is not an animal broker, and we do not help people to sell
their farm animals or horses. We can counsel people on how and where to
place fliers and how to word an appropriate newspaper ad to ensure that
their farm pet will receive a kind and caring home. We can also offer
advice on what to include in the contract you may wish to have a
propective new pet owner sign.
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Q: Why doesn't Happy Trails
take in dogs and cats? |
A:
Happy Trails was originally set up to help abused, abandoned, and
neglected farm animals, such as ponies, horses, pet belly pigs, farm
pigs, ducks, geese, chickens, turkeys, sheep, goats, and cows, and that
is the group of animals on which we choose to concentrate our rescue
programs.
There are already a good number of rescue groups out there to help dogs
and cats, but where can Ohio's humane societies and law enforcement
officers turn for help with a farm animal? As hard as it is for someone
to find assistance for a dog or cat, can you imagine how hard it is for
the local humane societies to find someone to care for an abandoned
horse, a duck that has been hit by a car, a pig that has been nearly
starved to death, or a mistreated goat or sheep?
Happy Trails does not handle wildlife. Anyone handling or
rahabilitating wildlife needs to be licensed and certified through the
state. Laws are very strict governing this, and Happy Trails mission is
to concentrate on the rescue and rehabilitation of the farm animals and
horses.
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Q: Does Happy Trails have
daily hours when we can just come visit?
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A:
Unfortanately we do not. Happy
Trails does not have a paid staff and we continue to operate on all
volunteers. Some days we are lucky to have enough time in the day to
feed, care for, and help mend the animals here at our shelter. God bless
the volunteers who come out here to shovel manure, clean cages, scrub
buckets and mend broken spirits!
We are, however, in the process of putting together a fundraiser
consisting of trained volunteers to assist with daily visitation tours.
For more information on this,
click here and visit page five of the August 2007 newsletter.
Our major focus and primary objective is always to keep the animal's
medical needs, feeding and daily care our main priority.
We need to emphasize that we are not a petting zoo. Happy Trails is a
working animal sanctuary similar to a humane society. Many of the
animals we rescue are injured, ill, or simply afraid of humans (for
obvious reasons) and some are not accustomed to being handled. We need
to be aware of both the comfort of the animals as well as the safety of
our guests. We also encourage everyone to visit us at the many
public functions held throughout the
year.
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Q:
How is Happy Trails funded and who pays for all your expenses?
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A:
Happy
Trails relies solely on the kindness and generosity of private donations
from our supporters. We have gratefully received donations in many forms
from people who care deeply for the animals we rescue. Medical and
veterinary expenses, feed and grain costs, fencing, shelter,
administrative costs and daily operational expenses certainly add up
quickly. Happy Trails has been blessed with several grants for specific
projects or programs which does help out remendously.
Click here to donate toward
the care of the rescued farm animals and horses using your credit card.
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Q: Is Happy Trails a tax
deductable organization?
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A:
Yes. We are a corporation with a federal
tax ID number and are an approved 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
See IRS Documents
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Q: I would like to donate feed
for the animals, but I don't know what kind to get or where to get it.
(A question frequently asked by people who live in the city, but their hearts
are in the country with the animals) |
A:
We try to provide healthy
snacks and treats for the animals, so we go through a lot of fruits and
vegetables. (Carrots, apples, bananas, strawberries, lettuce, grapes,
etc.). Happy Trails does not accept any old or molded fruit or vegetable
snacks. Grain can be purchased from local feed stores such as Tractor
Supply, Western Reserve, Copley Feed, Pedigrew, Valleybrook, Ellie
Sommers, or Hargetts. There is a partial list of what we feed on our
Wish List Page. Happy Trails also accepts
donations of good quality hay that cannot be more than a year old, and
straw which is used for bedding.
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If you have any questions you would like
answered, please feel free to
email
your question
We will be glad to respond promptly.
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