Support Karuna Animal Rescue & Help Save a Life!

ABOUT KARUNA ANIMAL RESCUE 

I recently had the pleasure of meeting the founder of Karuna Rescue, Paula Ray.  Her love for animals, hard work and selflessness is truly inspiring.  She has been primarily funding the rescue by herself with the money she makes from her day job.  Paula starts her day at 4:30 am by feeding all of animals residing at Karuna, followed by a ten-to-twelve-hour work day at her construction job before coming home to tuck the chickens safely away for the night and feed the animals again.  After the animals are cared for, she finally sits down to feed herself and get some sleep before waking up to do it all over again! 

If she misses work for an emergency animal rescue, she is often making up for it by working on the weekend.  Even when she has a “day off”, it is spent tending to the animals or improving the Rescue in some way.  Her tireless dedication to saving animals, inspired me to help by creating this Gofundme.

Karuna is able to offer something many other local rescues can’t, due to space and zoning constraints, and that is the ability to take in large animals and what some might consider “farm animals”, as well as sick and injured dogs and puppies.  Unfortunately, there is a great need for large animal rescue in Humboldt and neighboring counties.  Paula recognized this need and decided to do something about it.  Karuna recently adopted out a pig, a yak, and two llamas and currently cares for nine horses, three roosters, a hen and a barn cat.  Thanks to Karuna these animals are getting a second chance at life.

Karuna has rescued approximately 36 animals in the last year which is no small feat.  Pictured below are some before and after pictures of two rescues currently living at the rescue.  


Meet Griffin at the time of his rescue.....


Meet Griffin now, can you believe this is even the same horse? Griffin is the wisest (oldest) horse currently living at the rescue, this sweet old man is approximately 34 years old! 




SAVING SOLDIER

I recently asked Paula if I could ride along on her next rescue, and I didn’t have to wait long.  Just a few days later, she received a call from local horse veterinarian, Daniel Chapman, DVM asking for assistance with two horses that were abandoned on a property out on Highway 36.  Without hesitation she agreed, and immediately began preparing for her new arrival by sourcing and personally funding the materials needed to build a new horse enclosure, costing over $1,400.00.       

Before heading out I asked Paula if I could film and photograph the rescue and she said, “Yes but please don’t focus on me, I don’t want Karuna to be about me, I want it to be centered around the work we do.”  It is for this reason you will notice Paula isn’t the star of the little video I put together of that day, but she is the STAR behind Karuna Rescue, even if she is too humble to admit it.   

After a long drive we ended up on a property in the mountains in the Bridgeville area owned by Full Moon Farms.  The folks at Full Moon Farms are awesome human beings and had been doing everything they could to care for the horses, that were most likely abandoned long ago on the piece of property they now call home.

The mare, known as Ginger was estimated to be over 30 years old, with cancer and a severe leg injury.  The gelding, known as Soldier, was estimated to be approximately 20 years old, with skin issues, and a skittish demeaner, spending his days trying to protect Ginger in her weakened state, making them both hard to care for.  Julie of Full Moon Farms soon recognized the horses needed a level of care they could not provide and reached out to Dr. Chapman for help.

It was evident they truly wanted what was best for the horses.  They were so grateful for the help, that Karuna Rescue left that day with a generous donation from Full Moon Farms.    

Paula, Damien (fellow animal advocate), Dr. Chapman and his veterinary technician, Rick patiently worked with the gelding, known as Soldier, feeding him cookies and getting him used to being touched, with the end goal in mind of being able to place a halter on him.  This took quit some time, a “special treat” from Dr. Chapman and some expert horse whispering from the team but eventually they were able to get a halter on him.  It was clear to me that it was important to them to apprehend Solider without causing him undue stress. 

Once Soldier was safe, Ginger was relieved of her suffering and put to rest.  I don’t think there was a dry eye on the mountain as we all watched Dr. Chapman and Rick euthanize her with a level of dignity, respect and compassion that touched me deeply.  They stroked her neck and she peacefully slipped away.   

Before loading Solider up in the horse trailer to make the journey to his new home, he was brought over to Ginger so he could see she no longer needed his protection, was at peace, and no longer suffering.  Julie and I hugged each other tightly as Solider hung his head to say his final goodbye to his long-time companion, while we looked on through tear filled eyes, silently worrying how he would cope with the loss.   

It was then I realized what it truly takes to dedicate your life to saving animals.  It takes grit.  When you can't save them all, and your heart has been shattered into a million little pieces, you find the grit to pick up the pieces and keep going, because the ones waiting to be saved need you.   

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Help Karuna Rescue to keep going, for all the ones waiting to be saved.   Here are just a few of the things your donation could help with:  

Help feed the animal residents of Karuna.  It costs approximately $1320 per   month in hay to feed the nine horses currently residing at Karuna and another $800 per month in grain.  That number continues to rise as Karuna takes in more horses.  

o   A donation of $235.00 would feed one horse for a month.

 Help pay for medical supplies and medications.

o   A donation of $140.00 would help cover costly cancer medication for Kardi, a beautiful white mare.    

o   A donation of $1000.00 would cover a round of vaccination boosters for nine horses (needed every six months).

o   A donation of $110.00 would pay for the de-wormer for nine horses (needed every six months).  

o   A $40.00 donation would cover one round of Equi-spot fly and tick treatment for nine horses (needed every six weeks).

o   A $50.00 donation would cover the cost of hoof trimming for one horse (needed every eight weeks).    

Help pay for veterinarian bills.  Many of the animals surrendered to Karuna have been neglected for some time and are in need of medical treatment.  The sooner they can receive it the sooner they can be on the road to physically recovering.  Even otherwise healthy horses will have medical needs arise, like Booger, who just last month colicked and needed emergency veterinary attention.  Additionally, your donation will help Karuna continue to fund lifesaving surgeries for animals in need.   

Help pay for horse training.  Help rehabilitate a horse so they are ready to adopted out to their forever home.  

o   A donation in the amount of $500.00 would cover one month of horse training for Rain, a mare at the rescue in desperate need of some training, to prepare her for adoption.

If you made it this far, thank you for taking the time to learn about the good work Karuna Rescue is doing.   Make a difference in the life of an animal, and consider supporting Karuna Rescue in one or more of the following ways:

~Make a monetary donation

~Donate supplies

~Volunteer

~Like and follow Karuna on Facebook & Instagram @KarunaRescueHumboldt

https://instagram.com/karunarescuehumboldt?igshid+jumpqt5x0nwr6

https://facebook.com/KarunaRescueHumboldt

~Share this Gofundme to your social media news feed(s) and ask your friends to share it too!   

Any support you can provide is greatly appreciated, and will allow Karuna Rescue to continue their commitment to help save animals in need, four hooves at a time.