ASPCA Grants $5,000 to Wyoming's Kindness Ranch

NEW YORK—The ASPCA® (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals®) today announced a grant of $5,000 to the Kindness Ranch: American Sanctuary for Research Animals in Hartville, Wyo. The grant funding will be used by the group to help transport 20 former research horses from the East Coast to equine sanctuaries across the country. The majority of the horses are thoroughbreds previously used in the racing industry before being donated to universities and private research facilities for nutrition and physiology studies.

"The vast majority of research animals are euthanized and rarely live out their final days in peace and comfort," said Jacque Schultz, Senior Director of ASPCA Community Outreach. "The ASPCA truly values Kindness Ranch's efforts in sheltering homeless equines and locating sanctuaries for these deserving horses, where they can live out their lives free of pain, fear, and suffering."

Kindness Ranch is the only sanctuary in the United States dedicated to rescuing and rehabilitating all species of retired research animals and providing them with safe and secure homes for the remainder of their lives. The sanctuary consists of nearly 1,000 acres of ranch land, home-style cabins for dogs and cats, plus barns and paddocks for horses, pigs, and other farm animals.

"We are grateful to the ASPCA for their support," said Dr. Karen Straight, Co-Director of Kindness Ranch. "These funds will help ensure these admirable horses are safely transported to loving homes. Ultimately, it means Kindness Ranch will be able to rescue more retired research animals and educate additional institutions about donating their animals to sanctuaries and adoption programs."

The ASPCA Equine Fund is devoted to promoting humane care and respect for horses, and provides grants to non-profit equine welfare organizations in the United States.  In 2009, the ASPCA awarded a total of more than $540,000 in the form of 164 grants to equine rescue groups and humane organizations across the country and recently announced the Million Dollar Rescuing Racers Initiative to aid in the rescue of retired racehorses.

For more information on the ASPCA's equine programs, please visit http://www.aspca.org.