H.0.R.S.E. Rescue and Sanctuary Must Close was the title of a diary from January, 2012.
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The inevitable has happened, my friend Mike Dodge has passed, but not before finding another wonderful person who can continue his work. Marial (and her brother) have taken the remainder of the horses to their place in nearby Spencerport, NY, and will continue to operate the Rescue. Chris, Mike's wife, will help them as they learn how to manage the Rescue. My condolences to Chris and all of Mike's family, friends and the rescue volunteers; it is difficult to lose such a man.
Mike Dodge passed as the last two horses were being readied for transport.
(from Rochesterhomepage.net, the website for Channel 8 and Channel 31 in Rochester, NY. Kevan Doran reports. The video was stuttering and difficult to listen to, so I have included the text. To see the video, go to the website and search "Mike Dodge"
Earlier this week we reported the owner of the Horse Rescue and Sanctuary in Pavilion died. You first met Mike Dodge when doctors gave him 30 days to live after a cancer diagnosis. That was a year and a half ago. Only on Eight.. we show what's happened to all those abandoned horses he helped save.
Mike Dodge held on until homes could be found for all the abandoned horses at the Horse Rescue and Sanctuary in Pavilion. He died Saturday at home, right after the last of their horses were ready to be moved.
"I went in to check on him" says Chris. "He was just taking his last breaths as the last two horses were being loaded onto the trailer. So I know he was waiting to make sure everybody was where they should be."
The new home of Horse Rescue and Sanctuary is farm in Spencerport appropriately called "Do Over Acres." It's run by Marial Ophardt. "Yeah my husband and I were fruit farmers in Hamlin and when he passed I decided to do the horses full time, so it's a do over."
Marial and her partner Robert are going to run Horse Rescue and Sanctuary. "It's a good feeling. You take an animal that has trust issues and you teach it humans are ok, they're not all bad. t makes you feel good. Does wonders for the animal. I also am a cancer survivor. So the story touched me."
"Marial has been a godsend" says Chris. "We found her after you did the spot on us after Mike was diagnosed."
Chris isn't going away soon. She'll take whatever time is needed to teach Marial, or perhaps prepare her to run a horse rescue operation.
Marial says she's up to it. "I hope so. They had wonderful, wonderful; volunteers. And I'm hoping we can continue on with that."
Chris is happy the Horse Rescue will live on after Mike's death. "It's a mixed feeling. I mean we did this for 20 years. And my place feels so empty without the horses there. But I know this is the best place for them."
Horse people say these animals are intuitive, they have an awareness of themselves and their surroundings. Perhaps these horses know a man who loved them is now in a better place. And before he left he made sure they were too.
If you can help Chris and Marial make the Horse Rescue and Sanctuary a success click here for information. Also, look for a special "Web Extra" on our website where you can learn more about the horses that have been saved and whether you might like to adopt one.
These are some of the
special needs horses that H.O.R.S.E. Rescue and Sanctuary worked so hard to save.
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Holly has been moved to the new location in Spencerport
♥
We have lost several family members during this last year and a half. The one thing they had in common was their love of animals. I have sent memorial donations to the H.O.R.S.E Rescue and Sanctuary in their honor. If you would like to donate this link here will take you to the website for the rescue.