Invested.in

Hearts and Hands Big Animal Rescue (www.hhar.org), a no kill shelter in Ramona, CA needs help. Nancy Nunke has spent most of her life helping to rescue equines both domesticated and wild (zebras and Przewalskys) for preservation and protection. Some of the stories at Hearts and Hands are; Chance, a mini horse who was attacked and mutilated by dogs (his upper muzzle torn off and his neck broken), his owner was going to have him put down but Nancy stepped in. With her tender loving care nursed him back to health and he is fine today and an ambassador for the Rescue. Then there is Zinty the Zebra, a five yr old gelding, who as a yearling jumped up and came down wrong, breaking his pelvis. Nancy refused to put him down as so many would have, and again with her love and care returned him to his former saucy self. He is fine today and has the run of the property. He has quite a sense of humor and loves to grab the feed buckets from us and stand on the hose when we're trying to fill water buckets. He is very gentle and wouldn't hurt a fly though! Well,  maybe a fly but never one of us! :) Then there was the horse that Nancy heard about and went and rescued...who was with owners who were purposely starving her while feeding their other horse because, "They didn't like her." Incredible. Nancy fed, fixed her up and adopted her out to a woman who loves her now.

Nancy turned her ranch into a non profit two years ago, but has not been able to get the support it needs. She was trying to do it all herself for 10 yrs up to that point and she just cannot afford the $7,000 per month feed bill herself any longer and that amount doesn't include any vet bills that may come in. All the animals are adoptable except the exotics (zoos are an exception) but people are just not adopting now. In fact, many horses are being abandoned and left to fend for themselves and thus are starving. Nancy lost half the property and her house in the Ramona fires of 2007 and has not been able to rebuild her home (there is a foundation built only...) as she is having to use the insurance money now to off set her costs. She lost her beloved 30 yr old daughter to cancer last year and to make matters worse for her, her husband of 18 yrs walked out on her 6 mos ago stating he just didn't want this life anymore. He also took half the money.

Nancy is one of the most selfless caring people I know and I posted this fundraiser to try and help get some funds in to help HHAR...or if you know of other ways to help a non profit as well, your advice is welcome. Please give what you can. It all helps. Thank you!
PS- There isn't much we can give back to you except to please feel free to visit us if you live or are visiting the San Diego area. HHAR is always looking for volunteers to help out also.