August 2020 Issue

EAST COAST EQUESTRIAN August 2020 Page 11 Email: eschfence@gmail.com - Fax: -- WHOLESALE & RETAIL Phone -- By Marcella Peyre-Ferry It isn’t every day you see a zebra in Pennsylvania, but now there are two living in Mechan- icsburg, PA. Speranza Animal Rescue takes in all kinds of animals, car- ing for them for the rest of their lives. Farm animals, including al- Grant’s Zebras Chrissy (left) and Janet, along with their mini pal Jack are now residents for life at Speranza Animal Rescue in Mechanics- burg, PA. The trio were in danger of being hunted at a game farm or sent to slaughter at a Texas feedlot. Speranza supporters raised enough money to save them in just an hour. Photo credit: Janine Guido Zebras Rescued from Texas Feedlot Now Call Pennsylvania Home (Continued on page 13) pacas, pigs, horses and cows have been rescued by founder Janine Guido and Speranza volunteers and supporters. The non-profit organization currently houses over 50 farm animals and 100 dogs. Some dogs are available for adoption, while others become permanent residents in sanctuary. All farm animals, including horses, are permanent residents. “All of our animals remain here at our sanctuary. They will never be adoptable. The only thing we adopt out of here are dogs. We have horses, lots of donkeys, cows, goats, alpaca….we have a little bit of everything. Some have been owner surrendered, but most are humane cases,” Guido said. “We’re all volunteer, no one gets paid. We’re up for saving whatever, as long as we have the means and money to do so. You take it day by day and nev- er know what’s going to come through the door.” Guido got word that there were two zebras in a feed lot in Texas. It is still unclear how the animals came to be there, but their next stop would have probably been a game ranch or slaughter. At the game ranches, vis- itors pay for the experience of hunting exotic game including zebras, making their value far higher than horses headed for slaughter. In this case, the price put on the zebras and the minia- ture horse that had bonded with them was $14,000, plus money was needed for transportation and initial care. “There was a thing on a Texas feed lot Facebook page that I shared on my personal page. A lot of people said they would donate. We raised our goal within an hour which was actually incredible. I didn’t ex- pect the outpouring of support,” Guido said. Chrissy and Janet are both Grant’s Zebras, distinguished by vertical stripes in front, horizon- tal stripes on the hind legs and diagonal stripes on the rump and flanks. The smallest of seven subspecies of plains zebra, they can grow to 11.2 hands, weigh 600 lbs. and typically live 20 years. Chrissy is three years old and Janet is two. “There’s a possibility Chrissy’s pregnant, apparently