Last Chance needs injection of cash

The Last Chance Horse Rescue farm in Ridgeway is the last hope for dozens of abused, unwanted and injured horses. The stables are full. But times are so tough in South Niagara these days that two starving horses were left abandoned in the Last Chance driveway last week.

Last Chance Horse Rescue Owner Sharon Allen was shocked to see this emaciated and fungus ridden quarter horse now named “lucky” standing in her driveway: “He’s all bony. And all sunken down in here. The back hips are all showing. There’s no muscle there.”

Lucky is 800 pounds underweight. his partner, a minature horse named noelle wasn’t doing much better. She appears blinded in one eye. The man who brought the pair says if Sharon didn’t take them, he’d leave them on the road.

Allen said: “I was upset. Because I’m full. I’m still trying to work with the one’s I’ve taken in. To bring Lucky and Noelle back it’s going to take a lot of money.”

Last Chance already has 33 injured, abused and unwanted animals. Including former race horses like Floyd, small miniature horses and even a donkey named Boomer.

Last Chance has to refuse many more horses than it can ever take in. Last month, Sharon received about 30 calls from people looking for a home for needy horses.

It costs 40 dollars a day just to keep enough hay in the stable.

Sharon says: “We desperately need hay. And desperately need grain. We really do need help for what we do.”

Last Chance Horse and Pony Rescue in Ridgeway is a non-profit charity. It survives solely on donations. It’s holding a Christmas fundraiser this Saturday from noon to five. There’ll be singing and Santa and a bake sale. And a chance to get up close with these beautiful horses.

Last Chance Horse Rescue is open every day. It offers horse therapy to both children and adults. If you want to help, you can sponsor a horse or you can donate directly to their website.

Editor’s note: An incorrect web address was given in the original post. This has been corrected.