MONROE — After hours of round-the-clock care, a neglected filly rescued from a Snohomish field last month looks like she’ll live.
“Whisper is doing great,” caretaker Jaime Taft said. “But, wow, was that a tough month. I thought we were going to lose her more than once.”
Taft’s nonprofit equine rescue organization in Monroe, Save a Forgotten Equine, took on the care of the filly, dubbed Whisper. Police rescued her and two other neglected horses Dec. 7. She arrived weak, starved to the bone and covered in sores.
What followed was a back-and-forth battle to save the filly’s life.
Cold temperatures did a number on the filly, who kept lying down, too weak to stand. Half a dozen volunteers had to rush again and again to her stall and help haul the 600-pound filly to her feet. Volunteers took 24-hour shifts watching the horse. They rented a sling and built a hoist system into her stall to keep her standing. It didn’t work well and volunteers tried two others before moving the horse to Pilchuck Veterinary Hospital in Snohomish.
“Finally, after several days they had a breakthrough where she got herself up without the sling and with only a little help,” Taft said.
Whisper, now on her way to recovery, is staying with a foster family in Sultan.
“She managed to get a few bucks in to let us know she is feeling good again,” Taft said.
Whisper will likely need another month or two to rehabilitate. Then, she’ll be ready for adoption. A few people have already expressed interest.
“I can’t begin to express our gratitude for the incredible outpouring of support we have received,” she said. “We received countless letters of support, monetary and feed donations. Whisper has developed a fan club.”
The work of a horse rescuer is never done.
Taft’s organization just took in another two foals and a mare neglected and seized in Monroe.
She said Whisper’s situation isn’t unique, just public. She hopes people would consider adopting other rescued horses as well.
Reporter Debra Smith: 425-339-3197 or dsmith@heraldnet.com.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
