Dear Editor:
Your recent article on the wild mare Avalon was puzzling.
I am a CHA certified instructor and have had horses all of my life. I have four rescues of my own right now. I don’t understand what the issue is.
Critteraid, according to their website, describes themselves as a charity whose goal is to keep animals free from anxiety and to find them suitable forever homes. Yet they are hesitant to grant the adoption of Avalon to Janette Damsa.
Critteraid should be jumping for joy at the offer for adoption.
Janette apparently has an established relationship with Avalon. Avalon is also attached to Janette’s horse.
If this is the case, Janette not taking Avalon is going to cause anxiety.
Training with feral horses is not an hour a week scenario. It’s the day to day contact and building of trust.
Breaking that relationship is breaking that trust.
Having Janette drive back and forth doesn’t seem financially feasible and wastes everyone’s time including Avalon’s.
As far as a suitable person, I wouldn’t think that there could be any question. She was responsible enough to look after all of Critteraid’s animals.
She is said to have had more success with Avalon than anyone else. That shows that the horse trusts her. Her offer shows that she cares about the horse.
Critteraid’s mission statement is to find loving homes for animals. Leaving the decision regarding the adoption until next spring is frighteningly disturbing.
I trust that any hesitation on Critteraid’s part is for the concern of the horse.
With rescued animals as with anything that has been taken from peril it is normal to feel protective.
But in order to function effectively and truly help those we assist heal, we must support their opportunity for a full life.
A shelter, no matter how beautiful, is still a shelter. It is not the same as a home.
Rae-Marie Leggott
Okanagan Falls