It is with heartfelt gratitude that Red Bucket is proud to announce it was named as the recipient in the annual holiday grant campaign, Holiday Wishes. We have received a $10,000 grant from Petco in partnership with Halo Pets. Red Bucket was 1 of the 5 winners chosen out of thousands of submissions.
We are honored to be chosen and forever grateful for the generous grant that will allow us to continue to provide food, shelter and all that is needed for our horses…and perhaps t…o make another dream come true….Thank you Petco and Halo Pets!
Please read our winning submission about an abandoned horse who was hours away from being euthanized, and the girl who’s dream came true.
This is the story of Liam and Dalilah:
He did not have a name, and it was clear that he had been both starved and abused. Found wandering the streets foraging for weeds and shrubs, the emaciated gelding was picked up by Animal Control and taken to a local shelter. At the shelter, he was out of luck and out of time, and would likely be euthanized if someone did not step up to claim him, which was unlikely given his level of malnutrition and disinterest in life, and in others. The internet photo of his vacant stare, hopeless posture and skeletal frame haunted us and compelled us to bring him to Red Bucket, where he received a name, a bucket, dignity, and a promise of a second chance. After his intake, aside from his daily grooming and enrichment, we barely saw Liam’s face for the first two months, as he kept it buried in the corner feeder of his stall. He ate as if he could never make up for the many months of missed meals, and as if he might never have another. The only time that he would raise his head was when he heard the voice of Dalilah, a 13-year-old who volunteered with her mother, and then he would pull his head up and track her with his mismatched eyes. As Liam healed, began his training, and started to reclaim his life, Dalilah fell in love for the first time, with Liam. Red Bucket devoted time in providing ground manners and saddle training, making sure to never rush Liam, but to gradually build his skill and his trust. The transformation was both gradual and astounding. As the shadow of Liam’s ribs slowly faded, he grew in confidence, both in himself and in the people caring for and nurturing him. Dalilah adopted Liam early in 2014, making him the 100th Red Bucket horse to receive a forever home. In keeping our promise to Liam, Dalilah’s childhood would be forever changed, and Liam would get the family…the girl of his dreams, who he still doesn’t take his eyes off of.