Take a chance....

~ CHANCE ~

The story of my very first kill pen rescue....  

In 2016, I learned about kill pens when I found a kill pen on Facebook. I looked at the page and my heart sank....

So many horses.... they looked scared, unwanted.... 

Then I saw this little, frightened 6 month old buckskin colt....He was said to be in the loading area for shipping, ready to load on a one way trip to a horrific death,  in the next few minutes. The video showed the truck pulled up to a loading  ramp.

I saw the look of fear in his eyes, I could not go on with my day after what I had seen.... I could not turn my back on him!  I bought him.  A knee jerk purchase that changed my life....

3 days later my colt arrived with a silver dollar sized wound that was oozing puss and had maggots in it. His leg was swollen 2 times normal size. This poor colt was terrified and in pain. Of course the kill pen did not tell me he was injured. As soon as I unloaded him from the transport trailer, I called the vet and asked for an emergency visit. When my vet  arrived, he took a good look at the unhandled and terrified colt and asked me how much money I had into him. Without thinking, I said, $525 for bail, $45 for board and $350 for transport. It didn't dawn on me why my vet was asking, until he told me that his leg was septic and recommended that I euthanize my new colt. I looked at my vet and told him I did not save the colt from going to slaughter just to kill him, and then asked him to do everything possible to save him. My vet gave the colt only a 20% chance at best, to live. I named my little colt "Chance,"  it seemed like a fitting name. It was touch and go for a while.... different kinds of antibiotics, injected, placed in his feed, IV's. This colt learned quickly that we were just trying to help him and he learned to stand still for the many injections and the IV's.  Each morning when I would wake, I would nervously go out to the barn to see if Chance was still alive. Each time I would feel a little panic when I would see Chance laying flat out in the shavings, looking like he was dead. I would call to him and he would lift his head up and look at me through sleepy eyes and then come greet me. He was always sound asleep in the thick shavings each morning when I checked on him.

Chance beat his odds;  he lived.... he is thriving.... and he is a very happy boy! 

We built a wonderful bond over those 2 months when he needed me most. He would follow me everywhere like a puppy. Chance tried to come in the house, he tried to get in my truck and would follow behind the truck when I left. 

Chance is very, very special to me. Each and every day I am thankful I saw that frightened little colt in a kill pen and I couldn't look away.... 

Chance enriches my life every single day.  He is sweet, sensitive and very loving.  A faithful companion, who comes when he sees me. I can't imagine living my life without him in it.  I saved his life twice, and he has greatly blessed mine....

Chance is my driving force for wanting to save the babies from auctions and kill pens. They deserve a "chance" to be loved and to enrich someone's life in return. ♥️♥️♥️

~Marcia Alvarez