Maine State Society for the Protection of Animals Celebrates Maine Horse Jubilee & ASPCA Help A Horse Day
Sunday, April 23 – 1 to 3 pm
279 River Road, Windham
The Maine State Society for the Protection of Animals will be celebrating the ASPCA® (The American Society for the
Prevention of Cruelty to Animals®) national Help A Horse Day on April 23rd and competing for a chance to win up to $25,000 in grant prizes to assist with their efforts to protect Maine horses who have been abused or neglected.
To celebrate the day, the MSSPA will host the Second Annual Maine Horse Jubilee featuring an array of fantastic activities, including a showing ofHelen Peppe, Author and Photographer‘s miniature horses, horse training demo by horse expert Debbie Little, farrier demos, equine veterinarian exposition, children’s activities, a visit from Baxter, the MSSPA mascot, and much more! The event is free and family friendly, and will take place at the MSSPA farm at 279 River Road in Windham, Maine. In honor of the ASPCA’s 150th Anniversary celebration this year, the contest has been expanded to include a total of $100,000 in grant prizes, including a grand prize of $25,000.
This nationwide competition is for equine rescues and sanctuaries to raise awareness about the lifesaving work they do year-round to care for at-risk horses in their community who have often been abused or neglected. Horses have been central to the ASPCA’s work since its founding 150 years ago, when Henry Bergh stopped a cart driver from beating his horse, resulting in the first successful arrest for the mistreatment of a horse on April 26, 1866.
“The ASPCA Help A Horse Day contest and Maine Horse Jubilee are wonderful opportunities for the Society to welcome the residents and businesses of the local area into the barn to help raise awareness about the horses in our community who are in need of loving homes,” said Meris J. Bickford, CEO of the MSSPA. “Horses are majestic, social animals, and we hope our local supporters will turn out on April 23rd to help the Society win a $25,000 grant to continue its lifesaving efforts.
The mission of the Maine State Society for the Protection of Animals is to provide refuge, rehabilitation, and placement of seized equines; support the placement of surrenders, and educate the public.Its vision is the elimination of equine abuse and neglect. The Society is unlike any other animal welfare facility in New England. Originally formed in 1872 to protect the horses who pulled Portland’s streetcars, the Society now provides around the clock on-site staffing, has access to veterinary services twenty-four hours a day, and maintains dozens of horses on its farm facilities. Animals who have been seized by Maine’s law enforcement officials and placed by court order with the Society, provided the animals are not suffering. Those not suitable for adoption receive sanctuary services.
The MSSPA is a tax-exempt, 501(c) (3) and receives no federal, state or local funding. The organization is funded by a combination of membership dues, bequests, donations, grants, and fund-raising activities. The Society does not charge for its services and seeks no reimbursement from any public source.
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