Thursday, October 3, 2002
Rock Valley keeps 14 Premarin foals
By KYLA TITUS
Correspondent
SOUTH VALLEY - When the "Hoofbeats Across the Heart of America" Premarin foal rescue caravan arrived at the Rock Valley Farm in South Valley last week, Liz Mott, one of the owners and operators of the farm, was unsure if she would keep one of the 15 foals being transported.
Mott, her family and friends and many volunteers have since become part of a full-blown rescue effort - they've retained 14 out of the 15 foals.
The decision was made after the realization that the foals were too weary to continue on to New York City for a media tour.
"We did it for the babies," Mott said. "The ride was very long, and for the good of the babies we kept them here."
The farm was not equipped to handle as many foals as it had taken in, but the consensus was the foals were safer staying than leaving, according to Mott.
A make-shift tarp building was constructed immediately, and the pastures have been expanded. Volunteers are now working to build run-in sheds.
It is hoped that most, if not all, of the foals will be adopted before the winter.
Of the 14 foals, eight have been unofficially spoken for - leaving six still needing homes.
The cost for adopting a foal is $750, which includes expenses for transportation from Manitoba, Canada, feeding and border fees. Any remaining proceeds will aid in the rescue of more Premarin foals.
As reported in the Sept. 26 edition of the CoopersTown Crier, Premarin is an estrogen drug used in the treatment of menopause and osteoporosis. It is derived from the urine of pregnant mares.
Many of the foals born to these Premarin mares are destroyed.
For more information on adopting a foal, Mott can be reached at (607) 264-3519 or by Email at dirtgirl33@aol.com. The Rock Valley Rescue website is www.rockvalleyrescue.com.
For more information on the nationwide effort to rescue Premarin foals, call The United Pegasus Foundation at (626) 279-1306, Email unitedpegasus@yahoo.com or visit the website www.uan.org.
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