LifeLine Grant goes toward treatment for gunshots to horse’s eye and jaw
North Grafton, MA (February 5, 2010) – United Animal Nations (UAN), a national animal protection nonprofit based in Sacramento, California, has awarded an emergency grant to help pay for veterinary care for Picaro, a horse who was shot by his owner in Spencer, Massachusetts last month.
  Picaro before having surgery to remove his right eye after sustaining multiple gunshot wounds to his face. Photo: Andy Cunningham, Tufts University  |
The LifeLine Grant from UAN will go toward the $17,000 cost to surgically remove Picaro’s right eye and repair his injured jawbone and hyoid, the cluster of bones that supports the tongue and vocal chords. Picaro has already had two operations at the Hospital for Large Animals at
Picaro’s owner allegedly shot his wife, their poodle and the horse before setting fire to their foreclosed home and shooting himself on January 14. Picaro, a 14-year-old Paso Fino stallion, was the only survivor of the incident.
“UAN’s LifeLine Rescue Grants are intended to help animals in life-threatening situations who need urgent care,” said UAN President and CEO Nicole Forsyth. “We at UAN were moved by the tragedy that Picaro survived and what the staff at the Cummings School is doing to help him. Our LifeLine Grant is our contribution to his future well-being.”
Kelly Small, the steward of Picaro’s care, first contacted UAN about Picaro’s plight; UAN subsequently issued a $200 grant toward the horse’s care. Small is working with officials at the
In 2009, UAN awarded more than $83,000 in LifeLine Grants to help 509 animals receive lifesaving veterinary care. Applications for LifeLine Grants have increased by 73 percent in the last two years. UAN received a record 2,466 applications in 2009 and approved approximately 21 percent of them. UAN received 2,128 applications in 2008 and 1,428 in 2007.
To learn more about LifeLine or see a comprehensive list of financial resources for veterinary care, visit www.uan.org/lifeline.
To learn more about Picaro or contribute to his care, visit his blog and www.tufts.edu/vet.
United Animal Nations (UAN) focuses on bringing animals out of crisis and strengthening the bond between people and animals through a variety of programs, including emergency sheltering, disaster relief services, financial assistance and education. Learn more at www.uan.org
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