Fallen Hero & Failing Horses: Helping Promises to be Kept

This campaign is two-fold: one is to help support a father fulfill his promise to his son who died while is service protecting our freedom (Dallas, TX area) and the second is to help change the horrible life and suffering of horses owned by a Vietnam veteran (Cincinnati, OH area). Helping Horses and Heroes is a 501c3 non-profit organization and all donations are tax deductible with all funds going to support these emergency situations.

These situations are at both ends of the scale... on one end we have beautifully loved horses that have lacked nothing in care... on the other we have decades of horses suffering horribly in all areas of food, shelter, untreated injuries and uncontrolled breeding. Both are in a crisis situation needing immediate help.

Meet Chuck Mintzlaff and read his story in his own words. If you want to donate specifically to his cause through this campaign, just let us know and we will be happy to honor your request.

I am trying to keep my promise to a dead soldier.

My son S/Sgt Brian L. Mintzlaff enlisted October 23, 2001, shortly after the Terrorist attack on the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center. He enlisted in “righteous anger” leaving behind a wife, beautiful daughter, and a rising career.

Before he left for active duty, I promised him I would care for his childhood horse Rebel, and her family, till the day I died.

Brian was killed on his third tour of duty December 18, 2006, in Taji, Iraq. Since then, I have sacrificed everything to keep my word to him.

Without his financial help, (and losing a large stockpile of hay, an attached tool shed with thousands of dollars of tools and equipment, and the shelter for the horses) and a recent extensive vet bill, special medication and supplements for one of the horses has completely depleted any and all capital and convertible assets.

The horses now in harm's way are very special horses in themselves having helped over a thousand severely abused children regain a foothold on life. And no, I never charged for any child being with, or riding them in any capacity.

They are three of the original six program horses that were all certified Pet Partners by the Delta Society.

While extremely successful, the Texas Pony Express Immediate Intervention Equitherapy program was “ahead of its' time'”and shut down due to society's regard for them as “throwaway children” resulting in a lack of funding.

I cannot “give them to a good home”, and I will not starve them.

The only alternative is euthanasia. This would be a horrific dishonor to them for the compassion and healing they rendered to so many abused children, and a broken promise to my son Brian as well.

All I need is a little help for hay and feed for a few weeks until I can get back on my feet.

God Bless
Chuck & Kids
Lady, Able, Sundance, Boss, Rebel, and Combustion
http://fornikki.com/home

In our current “Operation Rescue”, 4 mature stallions needing the most urgent Veterinarian treatment were taken into our care on June 9. They are being treated for injuries and getting the nutrition they need to gain weight and health.

Good quality hay has and is continually being provided for the rest of the horses until we can remove them. It’s extremely complicated due to lack of fencing, property inaccessibility and owner/horse cooperation. Most of the 22 or more stallions are mature or aged and most have not been handled at all. They are running together and the fighting is at times vicious. Anxiety and fear levels are high with even the quietest movements or interaction.

We will update continually and our Facebook page will have more information and pictures. Our website is under construction and a page will be added with details on the individual horses as we have them.

These horses will be in need of immediate homes. We don’t have the facilities or funds to take these horses on personally. Please fill out the Adoption agreement if you are interested in offering one or more of these horses a home. You can find a link to these forms on our web site.
http://helpinghorsesandheroes.org/adoption-applica...

You can be assured that your support will go directly to helping Chuck and the horses we are helping through Helping Horses and Heroes. We’re a volunteer staff willing to put in the time and effort if we have the financial support. If you want your donation to go for a specific use, please let us know. You may also donate directly to Chuck, feed store and veterinarian but those donations will not be tax exempt.

Paypal donations can be made through GoGetFunding or directly to PayPal to
[email protected]

Donations can also be mailed to
Helping Horses and Heroes
8071 Elson St SE
Waynesburg, OH 44688

https://www.facebook.com/HelpingHorsesAndHeroes

http://helpinghorsesandheroes.org/

Carney Feed Store (Helping Horses and Heroes) (513) 625-7755
Burroughs Veterinary Services (Helping Horses and Heroes) (513) 309-5211