Equine Rescue

In 1883, Ossining resident Mary Dusenberry was moved by the sight of work horses struggling to deliver heavy loads of coal. Her concern led to the creation of SPCA Westchester in Briarcliff Manor, the only agency in Westchester County empowered by the State of New York to enforce laws relating to animal cruelty.

Today, more than 140 years later, concern for the humane treatment of horses remains one of the top priorities of the SPCA’s Humane Law Enforcement Unit. The sad reality is that not all horses in Westchester County are well treated. Many face a life meager accommodations, little if any medical attention, poor quality feed, and finally when they are no longer wanted, sold for slaughter.

SPCA Westchester has established a fund dedicated to the costs associated with equine cruelty cases. Your contributions help provide medical, farrier, and dental care, along with quality feed and hay for neglected and abused horses in our community. For more information, please call (914) 941-2896 ext. 112. Contributions can be made to our Equine Rescue fund and mailed to the SPCA.

The SPCA recently had two horses in its care who have since passed, both victims of overwork, neglect and abuse. With proper and consistent medical, dental and farrier care both thrived and were able to live the lives they so deserved. One of our rescue ponies lived to be 35 years of age and lived out his life on a farm in Bedford, NY with a family of children, dogs, cats and two other ponies.