Complaint Review: Orphan Acres Inc. - Viola Idaho

These statements being made by "debbie" could not be more far out and utterly false. Anyone who has actually spent time the rescue with Brent knows the kind of respect these animals get. 

Every one of them, stabled or not, has a winter coat, as well as blankets on to protect from the elements. They are fed a steady supply of alfalfa, hay, and grain, they also have plenty of water provided to them. 

I just spent the past 3 weekends volunteering my time at the rescue, and I loved every minute of it. Being able to interact with the horses, and just feeling their energy was amazing.

The real ripoff here is the false statements being made by "Debbie Richmond". Which is also a false name.

I invite anyone to take a visit to the rescue. You will find Brent and 5 or 6 volunteers just trying to make these horses lives easier and more comfortable. 

Referencing the anonymous comment made Oct. 18, 2012, I do not believe Orphan Acres has lacked financial resources.  From January 2011:

 ...We rely entirely on donations, grants, and volunteer labor, says Glover, who has had as many as 138 horses in residence at one time.  These days, because we are so crowded and strapped for cash, I can take only real emergencies, but those still include all comers.  Even with our severe limitations, we take the young and old, injured and sick, as well as healthy, trained horses....

Source: http://www.newwest.net/topic/article/a_hard_year_for_horses_idaho_nonprofit_orphan_acres/C41/L41/

Below is the budget presentation Orphan Acres submitted to the Latah Board of County Commissioners (LBOCC) for the year 2010 which I received via public records request:

Orphan Acres, Inc. 2010 Expenses:

Phone                                     836.44
Power                                  4,258.80
Farm payment & tax            19,155.53
Insurance                              2,213.36
Vet                                        9,010.20
Office                                    3,660.02
Bank fees                                500.00
Postage                                   600.00
Books                                      549.00
Brand inspections                    266.00
Horse registrations                  690.00
Expos                                   1,936.70
Fund Raising Costs          336,949.18
Baling twine                           314.91
New equipment                  4,680.52
Tack                                    1,456.66
Farm repair                       10,167.85
Building maintenance          2,027.90
Equipment repair               5,601.05
Diesel                                 2,730.45
Gas                                    1,767.99
Grain                                  6,282.73
Hay                                  18,576.35
DMV                                      393.10
Health insurance                   896.00
Food                                  3,518.84
Bank fees                          3,052.59
Misc.                                10,600.00

Total:                            502,619.00


Orphan Acres, Inc. Income from Grants, Donations, In-Kind:

Grants                               7,451.79
Fund raising                   433,381.76
Donations                        31,651.93
Rental                                8,220.00
Personal                            8,760.00
Hay                                 24,972.50
Pasture                              1,260.00
Vet supplies                         275.00
Expos                                  250.00
Tax preparation                   700.00
Grain                                   900.00
Building supplies               8,000.00
Web & internet                    500.00
Water well                           200.00
Farrier                              3,350.00
Tack & blankets               3,000.00
Computer                            800.00
Misc.                                3,000.00

Total:                            536,672.98

In May 2010 the facility had 79 horses.   

For comparative purposes, the Orphan Acres IRS Form 990 return for the year 2010 can be viewed online at: http://nccsdataweb.urban.org/

The budget presentation for Orphan Acres to LBOCC for the year 2012 reported a total income of $642,630.45, and total expenses as $572,075.83.  An income item listed as "fundraising income" for 2012 was reported to be $564,995.74, and an expense item shown as  "fundraising expenses" was reported to be $397,834.74.  

The above figures appear to me to be "5 star figures" transiting through Orphan Acres.  

Orphan Acres "spread its wings" to Oklahoma and signed on with Fundraising Strategies, Inc.  A corporation search for Orphan Acres, Inc.,  at https://www.sos.ok.gov/ will show two form submissions describing the contract between Orphan Acres and Fundraising Strategies, Inc.   Below is an excerpt from an article regarding the Eberle fundraising organizations:  


"...Eberle's fund-raising activities have also drawn repeated charges of ethical misconduct, the most notorious of which was a campaign in the 1980s that used phony prisoner-of-war sightings to solicit money from veterans for former Air Force Col. Jack Bailey's "Operation Rescue," which claimed to be on the verge of saving American POWs still being held in Vietnam. One solicitation took the form of a "handwritten letter" signed by Bailey, who claimed to be writing from aboard his rescue ship, the Akuna III. "Please excuse the handwriting. But I'm writing at a makeshift desk on the deck of the Akuna III," the letter read. "The China sea is tossing and rolling." In reality, the letter had been written by Eberle, not by Bailey, and the Akuna III (which was not even seaworthy) had been docked for more than two years.

"Eberle's direct mail appeals enabled Bailey's group to raise $2.2 million between 1985 and 1995, of which 88% was actually spent on "fund-raising expenses" instead of rescue missions (and of course, no rescue mission ever actually succeeded in rescuing anyone). When these facts surfaced during a Senate committee hearing, the revelations prompted outrage from Vietnam veterans on the committee including John Kerry, who termed the operation "fraudulent, disingenuous and grotesque."

"Republican Senator John McCain offered similar sentiments. "In my opinion they are criminals and some of the most craven, most cynical and most despicable human beings to ever run a scam," McCain said. "They have preyed on the anguish of families, and helped to turn an issue which should unite all Americans into an issue that often divides us."

"Eberle simply shrugged off these charges, claiming to have "one of the highest reputations for integrity in the business...."

Source:  http://www.prwatch.org/prwissues/2002Q1/hacks.html


I believe most animal rescues can and do create and distribute their mailings at little or no cost.  My own personal choice would be to not support any organization which directly or indirectly uses fundraising companies such as these. 

A friend of mine and I started volunteering at Orphan Acres quite a while ago. Both of us started volunteering because we were raised in agriculture based communities and have a lot of experience around horses as well as various other kinds of livestock. Both of us were so impressed by orphan acres and the owner, Brent Glover. We agree that the conditions may not be five star facilities but when you have almost 100 horses being cared for by one person you can't expect top notch stalls and runs for each horse. We observed and assisted Brent in feeding special feed supplements to multiple horses who needed it and watched him care for many injured horses who had been delivered to him recently. Unfortunately with so many people abandoning their horses or trying to kill their animals because they can't afford to own them, the number of homeless horses is growing and becoming unmanageable. Brent does the absolute best he can with the resources he has available. All of his horses are being fed, and cared for, Brent does a fantastic job and I would encourage you to volunteer and help him instead of shutting him down. Unless of course you want to take all those animals in and pay to feed and care for them...?

Ms. Ezzell, a brief internet search indicates you are a long time horse racing fan and supporter, and familiar with Alex Brown Racing, its "fans of Barbaro," so I will presume you are familiar with their entourage.  I also presume you are aware of the facts surrounding the horse racing industry's contributions to overbreeding and slaughter of untold numbers of Thoroughbreds annually, as well as other well-publicized abuses in the industry for the sake of profits.

As a fan of horse racing, isn't it an act of hypocrisy and indicative of reverse-mirroring to enable cruelty with one hand while playing charitable donor with the other, crying foul elsewhere and hoping nobody sees the obvious?

However, if you are part and parcel of the fans of Barbaro, that behavior makes perfect sense.  Cover all the bases, play both sides, and then cry victim.  I refer to them as the "fascists of Barbaro."      

No, rather than email you, I am addressing you publicly. 

Allow me to share my experience with the so-called fans of Barbaro and their cohorts, because I had to learn the hard way. 

As a new and very naive Internet user, in 2007 I joined the "ABR" message board.  My nonprofit was a new and struggling startup which despite its imperfections performed far and beyond, with exceptionally well documented and therefore irrefutable authentic evidence of fiduciary integrity and humane care.      

Compliments of "ABR & Co.," I, my business, and the horses in my care became unsuspecting victims of an engineered smear campaign which come to find out in early 2009 had been scripted and orchestrated to result in a very mysterious and sudden loss of both funding and location during the most severe Winter on record, forcing a nearly impossible evacuation of animals and dissolution of the nonprofit, known as Mustang Hearts Rescue & Sanctuary, commencing January 16, 2009.  A total of 31 horses were evacuated to Orphan Acres.

What began in approximately June 2007 on "ABR" and other venues which apparently have some direct or indirect relationship to the foregoing platform, and has been a 5 year long on- and offline smear campaign; since 2007 I have been stalked as well as gang-stalked, mobbed, impersonated, harassed, libeled, threatened by proxies, businesses, friends and associates have been targeted, my emails and personal information have been stolen and used to attempt to impersonate, defraud, forge, frame, and incriminate me, I have been victimized by porn spam, viruses, malware, and lost two computers to date, during the period I operated my business there were deliberate attempts to block my efforts to rehome horses such as stalking of advertising venues and flagging and removing advertisements, as well as anonymous libel being posted to block both home opportunities and local support, fictitious websites as well as fictitious fundraisers were and are still being created by an anonymous perpetrator using my name or my business name, some I have found date as far back as Fall 2007, there have been numerous fictitious Facebook accounts and profiles bearing my name as well as my former business name as well as countless other impersonations of my identity elsewhere on the Internet, and offers to provide assistance in the form of calendars or other mailed items were used to collect the names of donors and their personal data and sold to data brokers, as well as routed to insiders and used for other nefarious purposes.  The cybercrimes are too numerous to mention, these are just some examples.

I learned in 2011 that a hidden member of "ABR" was bankrolling and seeking out both paid and unpaid bashers to set up smear campaigns for sadistic amusement, while playing a benevolent protector and beneficiary and encouraging victims to "stay and tough it out."  Apparently these schemes also offer ad revenue, side profits and kickbacks to those willing to play passive online hosts,  to provide the stage for said bankroller to script, direct, produce and finance these "movies."  This scheme also served insider fraud as well.

I will offer my personal opinions and recommendations to the public the following, based upon my own experience: I would refuse any and all contact with Crystal Cardona, her friend Lisa Lashaway, and any and all known proxies and associates, and any and all individuals, businesses and associates from Internet platforms such as "ABR" and related sites.  I would refuse any and all donations, gifts, offers of assistance of any kind, from the aforementioned as well as their proxies and associates. 


Yes, animal welfare fraud and abuse is all too common, and often difficult to spot; however, I believe donor fraud and abuse is a far more insidious and hard to detect crime because of the facades they paint and their "clean violence" and abuses by proxy, where they can commit the perfect crimes.  Those complicit who provide any device or platform for these snakes in skirts to manipulate and stage their scripts, delusions, and criminal activities, which include satisfying their dark impulses, under the guises of benevolence and charity, also need to be exposed and stopped. 

I recently made a donation to this organization only to find out that they have starved & shot horses.  They walk hand-in-hand with pro horse slaughter! I have researched them & found out this information from reputable sources. One of the largest, well known horse rescue facilities are aware of their actions. I have already alerted my bank so they will not receive any funds from me. Don't let the shock & awe photos fool you!

Cara Ezzell

[email protected]

Unfortunately the above-mentioned site was soon removed despite its legal and factual content - and I have no doubt because of it. 

I would like to point to the following links to local newspaper articles regarding Orphan Acres, where the Orphan Acres owner was interviewed, and in that interview he stated that $265,000.00 was being requested for an emergency land purchase.  That was debunked by those who investigated further.  Three of the articles were written just last October 2011, and the last article in December 2011.  The Moscow Daily does require a subscription to view the articles, The Daily Evergreen does not:

10-19-2011 article from the Moscow Pullman Daily:

http://dnews.com/local/article_c6cadf34-026d-5910-bb3f-5b32b5233234.html

10-21-2011 followup article from the Moscow Pullman Daily

http://dnews.com/local/article_843cb6b3-bf1b-517f-9433-671cc6500eb7.html

10-21-2011 verification by another local newspaper, The Daily Evergreen, that the land was not under threat of development:

http://dailyevergreen.com/read/Orphan-Acres-land

Dec. 9, 2011 comment by the same newspaper, and I fully agree with them:

http://dailyevergreen.com/read/opinion-editorial-Christmas-naughty-list

A work in progress will be available beginning 2-23-2012 and published at http://theforgottenhorses.blogspot.com, to provide a more comprehensive overview as well as a timeline, with any available updates and information regarding ongoing animal neglect and cruelty issues at the Orphan Acres facility in Viola, Idaho, as well as issues with deception and fraud by Orphan Acres, Inc.  

Reference Comment #3 and photo links: photographs of "Blue Magoo" taken during ISDA's June 30, 2009 inspection, Case No. AC09-0220, are viewable at:

http://www.care2.com/c2c/photos/view/4/874872110/Voices_Against_Orphan_Acres/

Again, the link to the Orphan Acres website with photos and allegations about "Blue Magoo," Orphan Acres' "movie star:"


http://community.palouse.net/orphanacres/blue.html

From Animal Law Coalition:

http://www.animallawcoalition.com/horse-slaughter/article/956

New Zealand article: "Arabian Horse Association Board Backs U.S. Slaughter Plants"

http://www.horsetalk.co.nz/news/2009/06/040.shtml

Canadian horse slaughter undercover videos:

http://www.defendhorsescanada.org/ChambersofCarnage.html

Horse slaughter in Mexico:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8e0JDtFiLgI


Orphan Acres "mission" according to the website at: http://community.palouse.net/orphanacres/about.html


"The mission of Orphan Acres Equine, Rehabilitation, and Sanctuary, Inc. is to provide care and rehabilitation for abandoned, neglected, abused, and malnourished horses, while educating the public regarding the issues surrounding rescue and rehabilitation including all aspects of horse ownership and care." [emphasis mine]


We all are aware that overbreeding is the main cause of neglect, abuse, and slaughter. 

What we DON'T know is how many unwanted horses created by Orphan Acres semen may have been sent to slaughter over the years.  But I think we know who paid for it.

This Arab gelding at Orphan Acres was seen by an independent veterinarian on January 28, 2009, and it was reported that his BCS was 5.0 by said veterinarian.

Here is a photograph of the same gelding on 4/22/09 by ISDA:

http://pets.webshots.com/photo/2436507540105351271QNNhzD

Here is a photograph of condition of the same gelding on June 30, 2009:


http://miraclehorserescue.blogspot.com/2009/06/please-welcome-mhrs-newest-arrival.html

The Nevada Brand Office can confirm this horse's departure was from Orphan Acres. 


The horse's condition less than one month later:

http://miraclehorserescue.blogspot.com/2009/07/little-bear-72609.html


Now let's ask ourselves this: why was a horse in this emaciated
condition transported out of Orphan Acres and shipped 1,000 miles to a
different state and a different facility, and Orphan Acres was not
charged with any violation of animal cruelty or neglect in the state of
Idaho?  And equally disturbing is why the receiving facility failed to file a complaint with ISDA upon receipt of a horse in such emaciated condition?

I wish anyone luck attempting to seek any humane relief for horses at Orphan Acres by means of approaching Latah County or ISDA officials.  In fact, animal cruelty laws for horses in Idaho have worsened recently, affording them next to no protection from neglect and abuse.  According to The Animal Law Coalition, Idaho law affords more protection from damage to a flat screen TV than to a dog or cat: 

http://www.animallawcoalition.com/animal-cruelty/article/38

"I live in St Maries, Idaho and horseshoeing is my family's business. My husband has been volunteering his services at Orphan Acres since Spring 2005. He goes out every month to work on trimming feet and treating hoof problems. Throughout the regular school year he often schedules his visits to coincide with the many veterinary students from WSU who also volunteer at the facility."

I find it very difficult to believe that any farrier in such an economically challenged geographical area as Benewah County would volunteer to trim what I understand are over 80 horses currently housed at Orphan Acres without some type of remuneration.  Your farrier must be Superman, a saint, or independently wealthy.  And farrier care for over 80 horses entails more than a once monthly visit, wouldn't you agree?

As for the "rescue" horses at Orphan Acres, according to ISDA inventory on April 22, 2009, for case #AC09-0220, a large number of horses are Arabians, including stallions ranging in age from 5 to over 25.  A former volunteer, Ruth Williams, knows the progeny VERY well and says the majority of Arabians are Orphan Acres' personal stock. 

And it also appears Mr. Glover is making bank on getting WSU to come out and "volunteer."  As I understand it, WSU obtains grant monies to offer their community service programs, so Mr. Glover benefits, the universities benefit, but I have personally witnessed volunteers not spending any quality time with the horses but mucking out stalls, and doing various "honey-do's" such as painting the interior of Mr. Glover's rental house.  I think that is an insult to the students, to the taxpayers, to consumers, and most of all to the horses. 

Would there be any possibility the farrier is being remunerated by some governmental agency, perhaps?  In 2006 documentation for Case #AC07-0018, there is a letter from a cancer research company dated Sept. 28 2006, which states the following:

"...Mr. Glover has been willing to work with the University of Idaho and also our company for research purposes.  Stallions at Orphan Acres have been generously provided for semen collection to study reproduction parameters...."

Note that it was not stated whether "reproductive parameters were related to the equine species.  ?

Another letter from the same case documentation from "HR Enterprises" in Moscow, ID which states:

"...my sincere thanks for your allowing us to collect samples from your stallions.  We are confident that the information you have allowed us to collect will be of benefit to horse breeders everywhere...."

I've tried to locate "HR Enterprises," can't find a thing except for the email address posted on the letter in the document as [email protected].  I believe that is Rustebakke Arabians which has a page on Facebook.

You call it rescue.  I call it fraud. 

Take a look at AC07-0018, filed in 2006 by Cindy Chadwick, AC08-0039 filed by Louise Vassallo, and other complaints which have been filed. 

Legitimate rescues do not breed, do not secretly promote and profit from breeding behind the public's back and on the public's dime.  I have to ask myself if the government and universities are somehow complicit as well, for all we know you may be on some government or private "payroll" for your "volunteer"services at Orphan Acres.

Legitimate rescues have a proactive adoption program, they do not warehouse horses.  Is Mr. Glover collecting a per diem from somewhere on a "per head" basis?  For several years I have yet to see any adoption information or even mention of adoption at the Orphan Acres website, any adoption advertising on venues such as Petfinders, local advertising - no visible efforts by Orphan Acres to actually rehome any horses at all.  Review any other legitimate nonprofit rescue's websites and policies and you will normally find some visible proactive adoption program in place.  

If this is a hoarding issue, I believe this needs to be addressed by outside humane agencies such as  HSUS, as the recidivism rate for hoarders is 100% according to Pet-Abuse.com. 

If Mr. Glover is operation a nonprofit animal rescue, why is he listed as a P20 (human service organization) on Guidestar rather than a D20, as are all other nonprofit animal welfare organizations? 

http://www2.guidestar.org/Home.aspx

I find that rather curious. 

How about a written statement of humane euthanasia methods and disposal from Orphan Acres? Do you think horses are dying in the laps of volunteers?  Read the documentation at AC09-0220. 

As to Orphan Acres choice of attending veterinarians, I have documentation where opinions by independent veterinarians who saw the same horses did not in any way agree with those of the Orphan Acres veterinarian.  I have shared that documentation with interested and concerned parties.  My personal opinion of the main attending vet at Orphan Acres?  I wouldn't let her touch my hamster.

Have conditions improved at Orphan Acres since the 2006 and 2009 investigations?  If there is any possibility that they have, I will opine that it is for the sole reason of trying to put polish on a terd in order to further bilk the grant foundations and consumers. 

Personally I am tired of the "poor Brent" martyrdom articles on the Internet to get the unsuspecting to open the wallets.  Talk is cheap.

Have a great day.

In response to Consumer Comment #1:

"It is time for this unreasonable -- even ridiculous -- report to be put to rest.  Orphan Acres has received continuous praise from any number of equine welfare experts."

FACTS speak for themselves.  ISDA documentation and photos show actual evidence of progressive body condition scores showing notable weight loss of many older horses at the Orphan Acres facility during their 2009 investigation.  In my opinion, whoever praises without acknowledging said facts and documentation neither has the best interests of the horses in mind, nor the consumers who expect integrity and honesty from any nonprofit animal care facility.


"Orphan Acres is a 35-year old organization run by Brent Glover, an unceasing animal lover.  He has dedicated his life to running a ranch that accepts horses which have no other options.  Many have been turned away by other sanctuaries, only to thrive and prosper -- and be adopted out -- thanks to Brent. More than 2500 horses have been rehabilitated and adopted out since the beginning of his program."

Orphan Acres filed for its fictitious business license in the state of Idaho in March 2000, and received its 501(c) tax exempt status in 2002.  This can be verified by contacting the Secretary of State of Idaho.  As to the claim that "more than 2500 horses have been rehabilitated and adopted out since the beginning of his program," I contacted the Idaho brand office and also spoke with the brand recorder, Jenny Haskell, and according to both Ms. Haskell and a handwritten letter from Jim Kennedy, there were NO brand records found for Orphan Acres up to June 1, 2009. 

Body condition scores and photos, one example, same horse:


http://good-times.webshots.com/album/578435514DYjfvq

Another example, see Blue Magoo on 4/22/09:

http://pets.webshots.com/photo/2930848810105249433ELharQ

Blue Magoo on 6/30/09:

http://pets.webshots.com/album/574012889VwyLvh

Now go look at the Orphan Acres claims about Blue Magoo on their website:

http://community.palouse.net/orphanacres/blue.html

I live in St Maries, Idaho and horseshoeing is my family's business. My husband has been volunteering his services at Orphan Acres since Spring 2005. He goes out every month to work on trimming feet and treating hoof problems. Throughout the regular school year he often schedules his visits to coincide with the many veterinary students from WSU who also volunteer at the facility.

I have been to Orphan Acres many times in these years with my husband and can personally report that these claims are totally false.

I have done a little pecking around the internet and there are many wonderful testamonies of Brents care of these horses. I also tried looking at the blog listed in the report and see that it has been removed and the blog address is not available for use. So, I am hopeful that this destructive and false report will soon be buried with the cyber trash where it belongs.

Mr. Glover has spent the better part of his life managing this facility and his love and care for every animal that comes onto the property is immediately evident to anyone who visits.

In an industry that is struggling to house and care for so many in trouble, these types of deliberately false reports do nothing to help the horses. This person should be ashamed of themselves.

It is time for thisunreasonable -- even ridiculous --report to be put to rest. Orphan Acreshas received continuouspraise from any number ofequine welfare experts.

Orphan Acresis a 35-year old organization run by Brent Glover, an unceasing animal lover. He has dedicated his life to running a ranchthat accepts horses which have no other options. Many have been turned away by other sanctuaries, only to thrive and prosper -- and be adopted out -- thanks to Brent.More than 2500 horses have beenrehabilitated and adopted out since the beginning ofhis program.

Theaccusation ofmistreatment and "deliberate starvation" is very serious. Iwondervery much how such an unproved accusation could even come to light. I wonder aboutan individual who would file such a complaint without even one corroboratingbackup "witness". Perhaps this blog should also consider which complaints are ripoffs themselves.