Animal rescue sanctuary to hold a 1970s-themed event with dinner, beer, wine, and a silent auction on Sept. 13
By Pamela Dozois
Contributing Writer
Happy Endings Animal Rescue Sanctuary is holding its annual “Rock for Horses” fundraiser at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 13, at the sanctuary. The fundraiser is a ‘70s-themed evening, complete with peace signs, flower power galore, and live music by LiveWire. The evening also includes dinner, beer, wine, and a silent auction. The sanctuary is seeking auction items in support of this wonderful cause.
Happy Endings Animal Rescue Sanctuary was founded in 2007 by C.C. Beaudette-Wellman. It is an all-volunteer 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to educating children and saving animals’ lives. All profits go directly to the horses so that they may ensure the future of the Valley’s homeless, neglected, and abused horses. These horses are an integral part of their Horse Angels and education programs.
“Horse Angels focuses on engaging at-risk youth, especially those currently in the foster or welfare systems, with abused and neglected horses,” said Beaudette-Wellman. “We believe that children benefit from interacting with horses (and animals in general), and we feel that learning about compassion and empathy early in life can help build moral character, and self-esteem, reduce violence, and build a sense of responsibility and community. For horses with trust issues, we have found that children offer them gentle and happy interaction, which can, in turn, help these horses be more apt to accept people in general and become adoptable. All together, a mutual, beneficial bond is created.
“Coinciding with this program is a separate session that helps foster communication between Horse Angels’ youth and their families. One hundred percent of the participants we serve are low income. There is no cost for whoever wishes to attend any of our programs.”
The sanctuary also helps financially struggling seniors feed their horses.
“We have also expanded our rescue program this year to help seniors who are struggling financially feed their horses. We became aware that many of these folks will feed their horses before they buy their own food and medicine. That’s unacceptable!,” Beaudette-Wellman said. “They are good folks who love their horses like children, so we want to keep the ‘family’ together. These participants are carefully vetted before we accept them into our program.”
The sanctuary is eager to greet people at the fundraiser and always looking for help.
“We would be very honored for any assistance you could give these kids, seniors, and horses. We would also welcome the opportunity to have you come to our sanctuary for a visit and see for yourself the amazing understanding and love these horses are gifted with,” said Beaudette-Wellman. “We are so very grateful for your consideration and support of our big event and for your extreme generosity and commitment to our community.”
Tickets for the Rock for Horses fundraiser are $95. Reserve your spot by calling (805) 448-7138.
Happy Endings Animal Rescue Sanctuary is at 1326 Dove Meadow Road in Solvang. If you cannot attend but would like to donate, or for more information about the organization and the many programs Happy Endings offers, visit www.HappyEndingsAnimalRescueSanctuary.org.
To donate auction items, please call (805) 448-7138 or email happyendingssanctuary@gmail.com
