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Happy Endings Offers New Beginning for Mistreated Horses
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Animal Rescue facility expanded to offer services for equines and their owners during pandemic By Pamela Dozois Contributing Writer
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appy Endings Animal Rescue Sanctuary was founded in 2007 by C.C. Beaudette-Wellman and is an all-volunteer organization. It is dedicated to providing rescue for abused and neglected horses in the Santa Ynez Valley. They offer refuge, rehabilitation, sanctuary, public education, and an equine-based therapeutic program for at-risk youth. In 2020 Happy Endings rescue program expanded its services to include horses in the community who were suffering during the pandemic due to COVID-related hardships. “Thanks to the generous donations of Jacobsen Hay and Feed, we were able to feed 13 Belgian horses who would have otherwise not have been sufficiently fed,” said Beaudette-Wellman. In 2021 Happy Endings received generous grants from a few different foundations, which allowed them to help feed 44 horses belonging to 40 different individuals, approximately 80 percent of whom were seniors.
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C.C. Beaudette-Wellman is shown spreading some love with one of her many rescued horses at the Happy Endings Animal Rescue Sanctuary. Photo by Devyn Marseilles
“We also received 120 bales of hay from Jacobsen and 55 bales from private individuals,” added Beaudette-Wellman. “Farmers Warehouse donated 80 bags of equine senior feed. Throughout the year, we teamed up with Care For Paws to distribute animal feed at the Santa Ines Mission alongside People Helping People who distributed food for those in need.” In 2022, with much less fund-
ing, explained Beaudette-Wellman, Happy Endings still fed 19 local horses belonging to 12 local individuals. “We received a couple of grants and used our private donations to match those funds,” she added. “In 2023 we have obtained some funding and are targeting seniors in need who are struggling to support themselves in the face of steep inflation,” continued Beau-
dette-Wellman. “For those living on fixed incomes, the increased cost of everything is creating extreme hardships, so we are here to eliminate some of that stress by helping to feed horses in those families.” In order to ensure recipients of their program are truly in need, Happy Endings conducts on-site visits, and checks personal and veterinary references. They also con-
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