F.R.I.E.N.D.S. Horse Rescue & Sanctuary (Florida Research Institute for Equine Nurturing, Development and Safety, Inc)

F.R.I.E.N.D.S. was established as a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization in 1987 and we are in our 35th year of saving Florida’s horses. We are Broward County, Florida's oldest and largest horse rescue, and its only equine sanctuary. Our mission is to provide a permanent safe haven for all horses that are asymptomatic carriers of Equine Infectious Anemia in Florida as well as to offer help to any horse in immediate need of assistance in the tri county area. F.R.I.E.N.D.S. provides sanctuary to all horses we accept and does not buy, sell, trade or give away horses. Nor do we euthanize healthy horses to take in new horses. Instead, we offer a lifetime of sanctuary so these animals will never need help again. Our priority is to prevent the needless destruction of horses. Our financial goal is to acquire sustainable funding to provide these noble animals with the dignity of allowing them to live out their lives while meeting both their physical and psychological needs. We provide them with the best possible care and loving interactions they so deserve. Our moral position is to advocate and participate in ongoing research and if that is done, we will be helping all the horses in the US. Our intention is to help researchers find a cure, vaccine or a more accurate test for EIA. We offer aide by providing blood samples, (test tubes) to researchers, drawn by a licensed veterinarian. We also factually educate the public regarding EIA thus allowing us to dispel the myths and misconceptions about EIA. It is our ethical obligation to surrounding communities that we continue to give back to them in a worthwhile and enriching way by maintaining and enhancing our many programs that benefit local families, organizations and horse owners. Currently, we house 53 equines (50 horses, 2 miniature donkeys, 1 hinny), 4 potbellied pigs, 1 farm pigs, 2 sheep, 4 goats and 2 sheep. Only 7 of our horses are EIA  Positive. Over the last several years we have worked with several local police departments in saving horses, pigs and sheep. Lastly, we believe teaching people about how to properly care for a  horse, about the time it takes, about the true costs and  about the dedication involved, is extremely important to stop the ongoing cycle. We believe that through our programs people will have the opportunity to learn about the commitment and dedication required to make an educated decision about buying, adopting, leasing or renting a horse.