Sandra Billy has a particular soft spot for horses.
Billy, along with her daughter Bobi, run the The Rest & Recuperate Equine Care Society, a facility which allows for the recuperation of horses who are no longer wanted by their owners.
The Comox Valley residents started the facility 鈥� which is now based near Errington 鈥� when Bobi needed a home for a former race horse which was scheduled to be put down for meat.
"I've been taking in animals all of my kids' lives," explained Billy. "Guinea pigs, cats, dogs, birds, ferrets, it's about caring. It teaches the kids an animal is for life."
Bobi said she and her mom take in horses from a variety of places 鈥� tracks, trainers and people who feel their animals are too lame or too old for them to continue their care.
The facility does no adopt animals nor do they make any profit from their horses.
Billy said every horse that comes to them gets checked by their veterinarian, and although they provide love, kindness, food, shelter and companionship, some horses do have to be put down.
"We had a mare which we got in 2008, and she was so skinny the vet said she's just here to die," noted Billy.
"She was a walking skeleton, she was left so long," added Bobi.
Billy said she has to remind herself that she can't leave the animals in pain.
"I can't be selfish, I don't want to do that," she noted.
She said some of the horses the non-profit society receives have comportment issues because of their background.
"Sometimes they will kick or act up, but they come around very fast. They are really loving even though they've been hurt very badly," she explained.
Their current 10-acre property includes a pasture with a hill and a small clump of trees, but does not have a barn.
Currently, there are a few horses on a waiting list, but Billy said they are limited by what they can offer.
"We usually get a phone call or an e-mail from someone for a horse that needs a home, it happens all the time," she noted.
Billy explained donations are welcome, particularly horse grain, hay, blankets, and financial contributions.
Currently, Billy and Bobi live out of a shell of a motor home on the property while they care for the horses along with three sheep, three dogs and nine cats.
Cash donations to The Rest & Recuperate Equine Care Society can be made at any CIBC branch to account 00940-5002311.
For more information, call 250-937-7789 or visit http://members.shaw.ca/randrfarm/
