Pure Thoughts
I don’t know anyone who is doing more to stop the cruel and inhumane slaughtering of horses then my friend, Victoria McCullough and the wonderful organization she works with in South Florida called Pure Thoughts. This is not just some group of do-gooders rescuing the occasional abused animal. I’m talking about an operation that is saving hundreds upon hundreds of horses every year from being transported in the most horrific conditions from auction houses around the country to Canada or Mexico where their treatment is no less then a torture any animal lover could never bare to watch. And these are not just “old skinny nags on their last breath”, but rather mostly extremely healthy, vital young horses and foals. You see, they want them fat and healthy for their meat.
So what does Victoria and her friends do? They take their horse vans and head directly to the auctions wherever they are and they do whatever is necessary to outbid the killers, afterwhich they load up every last horse and bring them all back to West Palm Beach. Imagine a caravan of trucks arriving into our community bringing 200 or more horses, some with babies, and ponies all of which are getting a second chance to live the life we owe these beautiful animals!
The Pure Thoughts folks make sure that all veterinary needs of the horses are administered immediately when they arrive and the next step is finding them adoptive homes begins. But it doesn’t stop there, Victoria makes trips to Washington and around the world to lobby politicians to stop the cruel slaughter of our noble friends and has been successful in much of what she has attempted to do.
So I want to applaud Pure Thoughts and Victoria for all they have done and continue to do on behalf of our beloved horses!
Click on the link http://www.purethoughtshorserescue.com/ to find out more including how you can help.
Cheers!
RD
Rockie Alexander — February 17, 2009 @ 12:53 pm
Dear Mr. Dover:
You have a wonderful website. I was delighted to see on your webpage an animal advocacy group highlighted. I hope to be a benefactor (in a major way) when I have more time in the future “in retirement.” I resumed riding and chose the dressage discipline because I met a trainer who convinced me that his classical training was a humane method to have a horse allow me to ride on it’s back. He was a student of the Vienna Riding School for 5 years and rode with the Hungarian Calvary for many years thereafter. It was happenstance that we met. He could barely stand when we did. I did not have a horse and he did not have a training facility. Eventually, he retired when the horse I leased was sold. A year later, I decided to purchase a young horse, move closer to well respected trainer, Melissa Jackson and commute to work. It has been a wonderful trip!
I was already involved in animal rescue, poodles in particular, locally. Redwood forests and billfish nationally are my other favorite fights. I am not a terribly gentle warrior. I hope to be a gentle rider.
I plan on contributing to your particular cause. Thank you for sharing it here.
Kindly,
Rockie Alexander
Victoria McCullough — February 18, 2009 @ 2:19 pm
Dearest Robert
The content of your beautiful website is truthfully inspiring ,you have dedicated a young lifetime of experience and what has emerged is a masterful patchwork of achievement compassion and insight and i am truly humbled that you have chosen to illuminate the plight of our American Horses and the hidden industry based on cruelty that has existed for decades .It is the Mission of my “Triumph Project” to bring awareness to those who love horses and all animals the fact that we must become true “Stewards” of our horses ponies foals donkeys and draft horses for they are our companions our service animals our recreation and industries they are not livestock cultivated for consumption and we owe them our gratitude to be accountable and considerate
There is a connection that reaches to us while we are here and how we treat our companion animals directly defines our abilities to interact with our families our friends and neighbors ,Thank you Robert for your loyal support of an endeavor that has opened the doors of Congress and let the light of awareness in to reveal a Country of Kindness
P.S
There is no retirement for a star just different stages
With so much love
Victoria
Jennifer Swanson — February 18, 2009 @ 11:24 pm
Dear Robert,
It is hard for me to put into words what I felt when I read this. The fact that you have embraced this cause and this rescue in such a way is so wonderful. After spending years of rescuing these beautiful horses from abuse, neglect and yes slaughter it is like a wall has been broken down. The truth is now known. These horses are viable horses.
By people such as yourself and Victoria entering into this arena it is breaking down the walls of rescue. It is showing the world..WE HAVE A PROBLEM AND WE NEED TO FIX IT.
Pure Thoughts Inc. has spent years saving horses from slaughter, abuse and neglect. It has been such a learning and growing experience. Every day brings a new situation. Each horse that comes through here has a different and unique tale to tell… it is up to us to hear them. The abuse cases are heartbreaking as you saw last year with the young black horse named Destiny who is now a beautiful young horse full of life, energy and a successful future. I cannot tell you what it meant to us for you to attend our fundraiser and to see the compassion in your eyes when you saw Destiny. For Victoria to form the “Triumph Project” that WILL change the future of the horses once and for all and will be the voice that is heard in Washington D.C. is the answer we and the horses have been waiting for. Her voice which is the voice of the horses will be heard. We have rescued horses for years, we rehabilitate the horses that need it, we can train the horses that need trainind, we can offer the vetting, the farrier, the TLC, the news homes BUT we never have had the ability to go to Washington to speak for the horses, we tried but out voices would not be heard. We are a bandaid to a large wound. It is a good marriage, we have the answer to horse slaughter,we can handle the horses … and now the answer to this horrible situation will be told.
It is changes like this that are needed to take place. It is people like you, who embrace this cause that can truly make a difference and help us help the horses.
I am so honored that you have included us on your new website and I think it is just an exciting avenue you have taken with this website. The saying “when one door closes another door opens” can only be true if you decide to take that step.
If it is ok I would like to share your website with others and also on our website.
Respectfully Yours,
Jennifer
Bonnie B. — February 19, 2009 @ 1:31 am
Thank-you Robert for recognizing Pure Thoughts and the Triumph Project for the work they do in saving our noble American horses from going to slaughter.Last summer I adopted my first ever horse from PT, a young, Tennessee Walker colt that Jennifer had saved from the hands of the kill buyers in Nov. ‘07 at Sugarcreek. No, he was not an old, sickly, un-wanted horse. He was everything someone like I could want and need in my life. Having my horse has changed my life and made me a better person. I can’t put it into words exactly but horses touch your soul and move into your heart and one is never the same again!! I cannot understand how people who make their living and establish reputations from breeding, training, or selling horses could advocate the inhumane act of slaughter, it is just something I can’t wrap my mind around except that it must be about money. The all mighty dollar that allows many people to breed, breed, breed and then look for the easy, most “cost effective” way to dispose of their surplus commodity. Sickening, heart wrenching, and a shameful, black eye on the face of the American people who continue to support this practice. Again, thank-you for supporting such a fine organization as Pure Thoughts, The Triumph Project, and Jennifer and Victoria whose hearts and lives are dedicated to protecting and saving our noble American horses.
Ann Womack — February 19, 2009 @ 1:57 am
Dear Mr. Dover,
I have just discovered your website so may I first thank you for contributing your time and efforts to the rest of us who seek to travel this journey of dressage and love of our horses.
We are a little bit in “dressage Siberia” here in Montana but we certainly do see more than our share of neglect and ignorance of horses in this state. Most people here are opposed to the ban on slaughter because it drives the price of “loose sales” down. Our local stock yard runs horses through their ring & this winter there have been foals, young horses & even riding horses going (guess where) for $5 & $10 a piece. I have truly heard people tell variations of the theme, ‘good old Dobbin was such a great horse for twenty years so it was great that the knacker was available to send him to, what will I do now if I can only get 20 cents per pound?’ I have personally paid for the veterinarian to come & put down a stranger’s horse just so it wouldn’t have to go to the killer yard. And let’s face it, if you have any kind of livestock in Montana you probably have 30:06 in your gun case & that surely is a lot more humane, if you have the courage. I don’t want to think about how many horses have starved & frozen to death this winter. Many horses in this state are turned out on 500 or 1000 acres of scrub grass & sagebrush and aren’t seen again til spring round up. We had a month straight of weather that didn’t get above zero and many days of 20 to 30 below zero and I kid you not that you will hear many ranchers say the horses can eat snow instead of drink water.
So this is just another piece of the large wound, as Jennifer called it and it is an overwhelming wound in all it’s shapes and facets. Thank God for people like you, Victoria and Jennifer and so many others that do so much. I do what I can in my little piece of the world & that is what it will take from all of us, is to each try to do what we can for the horses that come into our lives. I can’t help but always think that if there was some way to regulate the indiscriminate breeding that goes on that that would take a large chunk out of the problem.
Thank you again, I too will share your website in our barn e-news.
Very Respectfully,
Ann
Gayle Hair — February 19, 2009 @ 10:06 am
Dear Mr. Dover, I spent some time with you at the Pure Thoughts Fund Raiser and was with you when you stood outside of Destiny’s stall. Thank you for supporting the work that is being done by so many to stop the cruel and inhumane treatment for our horses because of a desire to make a profit. I own a 5 year old registered Quarterhorse that was rescued from slaughter by Pure Thoughts, and I am committed to working to bring the slaughter of American horses to an end. I believe that the beginning of the end has begun…… and it will happen because it is the right thing to do, and because of people like Victoria and Jennifer and you.
Judy Mosher — February 19, 2009 @ 7:46 pm
Dear Mr. Dover~ Thank you for your support of Pure Thoughts Horse & Foal Rescue and the Triumph Project. Last May, I adopted my first horse– a 2 year old QH gelding. Aspen was merely a yearling when he was rescued by PTHR from Sugarcreek Auction in November 2007. Aspen is now a happy, healthy young horse who owns my heart and is loved beyond description.
Again, thank you for supporting our relentless pursuit to end the barbaric act of horse slaughter.
Kind regards,
Judy Mosher