We've got a problem and we hope you can help.
The price of hay here in Arizona has risen to record levels, up from $8.00 and $9.00 per bale last year at this time to $17.00 and $18.00 now. Our budget didn't allow for that kind of price increase and we are in desperate need of funds for hay. The hay went up but the number of rescued horses we have didn't go down. This has happened for a couple of reasons:
- The cost of fuel has gone up and so it is now passed on to us with the price of hay.
- Fields that once grew hay, now grow cotton since the price of cotton went up this year.
- Dairy farmers buy up a lot of the fields for the dairy cows.
- Now the fires in Northern Arizona are burning up the pastures and hay fields that supported all the horses up there numbering in the hundreds and that will make the hay even scarcer here. Right now the fire has burned more than 600 square miles and will soon be the largest fire recorded for the state of Arizona.
We can do the labor of caring for the horses and getting them the medical attention they need but we need your help in securing food for the horses.
Our feed bill has doubled over the past few months and we can't take in any more horses in need until we can feed the ones that have already found safety here at HEART.
Your tax deductable help would be most appreciated. Please consider making a donation by clicking on the donate button above.
Thank you from the bottom of our HEARTs.