2012 Wag n' Walk: Stephanie Marie Nicora - The SPCA for Monterey County

Welcome to Stephanie's Effort to End Animal Homelessness!

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SPCA Barn
Achievements $350 Milestone Raised $350.00 or more!
Walking towards my Goal! Goal: $2,300.00 Achieved: $2,020.00

Please help me help my animals!

On Saturday, May 5th, many wonderful people and their dogs will be walking in 17th Annual Wag n' Walk, a walk to help end pet homelessness. I hope you will sponsor me (and four and two legged animals) as we work to raise awareness for barn animals and raise essential money for The SPCA for Monterey County and all their important services. Last year's walk raised over $100,000 for all the SPCAMC animals and we hope to break that record this year!

27 horses found new homes last year through the SPCA Barn, ranging in age from 6 months to 26 years, and being perfectly rideable to an unrideable thoroughbred with one blind eye. Some of our longest cases got adopted last year - India, here since 2008, Thunder, an SPCA resident since 2006, and all the Coffee boys, who were the first rescues I worked with as a volunteer in 2009. We don't put time limits on our animals, including our large ones, despite the fact that the horses are the most expensive animals to feed and take care of.

Our horses get no expense spared with our equine veterinarians, our fabulous farrier, the wonderful staff, and the local vendors who work with us to get us the best food, bedding and blankets and everything needed for our horses. We also spend a lot of time working with our horses in training, going to clinics, and raising awareness that our horses are not broken. Every single dollar counts with our organization!

As a donor funded organization, the SPCA of Monterey County relies on fundraisers like the Wag 'N Walk to keep our doors open to all animals in need. Last year we adopted geese, ducks, horses, goats, chickens, peafowl, pheasants, and more! Your support helps not just traditional shelter animals, but livestock, wildlife, fund our low cost spay and neuter clinic and more.

Thank you so much - I look forward to hearing from you soon!

Owen Getting Better

Please help me help animals find forever homes

This is Owen, getting his bandages changed. He suffered from rope burns on his hind legs, but thanks to our wonderful vets and the great support network at the SPCA of Monterey County, Owen's outlook is bright. He may not be a tail wagger, but he is certainly helped by all you donors and supporters. (And he can't wait until he gets to run instead of just walk!)

Me and Paris

So Many Happy Endings!

This is Paris, who spent 2 weeks in the equine ICU where we weren't sure if she would survive. Paris was resilient, won the hearts of staff and volunteers, was a star in training, and then she stole the heart of a lovely young girl and mom. She has since been adopted and is living a wonderful life with a fabulous family. At four years old, she is completely healthy, well trained, and has a great life ahead of her.

25 horses were rehabilitated and adopted last year through the SPCA Barn. From six month old foals to a 26 year old mustang, every horse has a chance to find their forever home. Blaze, the mustang, is was adopted as a therapeutic riding horse for an 18 year old special needs girl. Rocket, adopted a couple of years ago, is competing in his first three day event. India, a 20 year old thoroughbred, blind in her left eye, is the faithful companion to JoJo the goat and enjoys running around her pasture.

The horses that come to the SPCA for Monterey County are not broken or useless. Because of generous donors, we are able to rehabilitate the horses in both mind and body, send them to trainers, go to clinics, and take the time to make sure the horses and the adopters are matched so that forever homes are possible.

Thank you for supporting The SPCA for Monterey County. Your contribution is greatly appreciated. On behalf of all the animals, thank you for supporting us in finding loving and caring homes.

Thoughts from the Barn

Topics

Baby Number 5
So while we were in Hollister, we had another baby arrive. This little one (and she really is little!) earned her name "Cricket". She can walk under her mom's belly, and her mom is the smallest of them all! One mare left to foal, and the odds are in favor of a boy, but who knows! I feel like proud expectant parents - we even have lists of names. So April brought 5 new babies - Faith, Gideon, Felicity, Savannah, and Cricket. Here's to May!

by Stephanie Nicora on Mon, Apr 30, 2012 @ 10:04 PM

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Buck Clinic Hollister
We just got back from the Buck Brannaman clinic that was held at Gilroy Gaits. It was my first clinic with him in person and man, believe the great things you hear about him because he is incredible, and humble, and amazingly well versed in all things horse. I took miss Maggie, an owner surrender from January who made extreme progress toward leaving a possible existence as a polo pony behind, and Larry took Champagne in colts, where she had her first rides - one even in the huge indoor arena. I am so proud of both girls, and look forward to building on that progress.
Plus, foal #5 arrived while we were gone! Only one left . . . odds are in favor of a colt since we now have four fillies to one colt, but you never know.

by Stephanie Nicora on Mon, Apr 23, 2012 @ 10:24 PM

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Good News!
We have gotten the okay to pick up Savannah from UC Davis tomorrow! She is standing on her own without assistance, nursing eagerly, and running around her mom on their lawn. I am so excited to bring Penny and Savannah home. She'll still be on antibiotics, but her prognosis is excellent and she's alive!
So two mares have yet to foal (healthy, they are going to be healthy, I know it!) and we have four foals doing quite well - and all the moms are healthy.
38 horses and counting!

by Stephanie Nicora on Tue, Apr 17, 2012 @ 11:23 PM

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Adoption!
Sitka, our lovely Quarter/Arab cross who was surrendered to us last June, has found her forever home! Her new owner fell in love with her from the moment she climbed on board (though Sitka was being a bit squealy!) and now the adoption has been finalized and Sitka has her forever home. This girl is awesome for the vet and farrier, is great on trails and in the arena, and she just found the match of her life. Thanks to everyone who helped make this possible (that would be all you donors!) and congratulations to Abigail and Sitka!

by Stephanie Nicora on Mon, Apr 16, 2012 @ 12:52 PM

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A Trip to UC Davis
One of our foals was born on Saturday morning, and was having trouble standing on her own. After consulting with our amazing vets, we loaded her and her mom into the trailer and drove them up to UC Davis and the neonatal ICU.
She is still there, but doing well, and is in the best of hands. We are hopeful we can bring her back on Tuesday or Wednesday.
Please keep mom and baby in your thoughts!

by Stephanie Nicora on Mon, Apr 16, 2012 @ 12:07 PM

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Easter Babies!
Well we knew the mares were pregnant . . . but no one expected three foals within 24 hours! As we left on Saturday, the mares all seemed normal - with especially good appetites!
Then when Ali got to work at 8 the next morning, she found a baby. Little Faith was born sometime between 8 PM and 6 AM, and she was standing and nursing so we were all relieved.
Later Larry and I were in the barn running some medications, and we heard Clarice go into labor. I actually witnessed the whole birth - which is pretty incredible when you think about how most mares wait until everyone is gone to foal. Out popped Gideon, one of the biggest baby boys our vet has ever seen! He is all legs and ears, and utterly adorable.
Then Monday morning, a mare that wasn't even on Foal Watch 2012 appeared on the back 40 with a baby! And that's how little Felicity came to us.
Faith is black with a striking white blaze, Gideon is a beautiful dark bay with a tiny star, and Felicity is a lighter brown bay with no head markings at all. They couldn't be more different - Faith loves people, Gideon has more energy than he knows what to do with, and Felicity's goal in life is to eat and sleep as much as possible - but they are all adorable and wonderful and we are very blessed.
Three down, three to go!!

by Stephanie Nicora on Wed, Apr 11, 2012 @ 4:50 PM

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Five adoptions and counting!
That's right, it's the end of March and five of our horses have found their forever homes. Three San Ardo mares (Maple (now Belle), Cassidy and Cinnamon) have moved on to greener pastures in Livermore, Hollister, and Monterey, while Shasta, our 25 year old Arb mix gelding and Finnegan, our six month old strawberry roan colt have also found homes!
We have a lot of interest in a couple of our other horses, and Lola was just released from protective custody, so we'll be looking to find her a new home quite soon . . . we've also gotten two ducks, three rabbits, and some guinea pigs in since the last time I wrote, so we're busy busy as usual . . . 35 horses currently, but with our mares due in two weeks to two months, we'll be adding five more sooner than we think!
Thanks for all your support. It doesn't go unnoticed, and I appreciate it more than I can say.

by Stephanie Nicora on Sat, Mar 31, 2012 @ 10:44 PM

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Hot Water!!
That's right, the barn now has a hot water heater so we can bathe all of our horses - even in the chillier weather!
Ashoka was the first to get a bath, and he loved it. His hair is still falling out in some places, but little hairs are starting to grow back on his face and neck. We can't wait to see his full transformation!
Then little Lola got a bath, and at the end, we realized she was finally fungus and lice free! This was the ultimate good news for Lola, who loves attention and being scratched and loved on. She went back to her pen and showed off her shiny coat, bucking and prancing around, acting like the little filly she is.
Spring shots came and went smoothly, thanks to Dr. Brown and Dr. Moses of Monterey County Equine, and now we are getting ready to settle down for Foal Watch 2012! Five mares . . . who will pop first??

by Stephanie Nicora on Sat, Mar 24, 2012 @ 10:14 AM

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This Week's New Barn Addition
Last Saturday, Ali, Cecilio (Humane Investigations) and I met Dr. Baker of Monterey County Equine in the field to do an initial exam of a horse that was being surrendered to us. While he was scheduled to be dropped off on Tuesday, we figured some pre-planning couldn't hurt, and Dr. Baker wanted to run blood anyway.
When we arrived there, the horse had a nice shelter and was being fed quality food. But something was off - not just the fact that he had a cloudy right eye, or that he was bald in giant patches. He was skinny - a BCS (Body Condition Score) of 2.0. Once Dr. Baker opened up his mouth, we realized what was going on. The poor guy had massive rostral hooks. Most people don't realize that dental care is as important for horses (maybe more) as it is for humans. As grinders, horses wear patterns on their teeth. Their teeth continue to erupt throughout their lives, stopping around 25 years or so. If they don't have their teeth, they can't eat.
This horse couldn't grind his hay enough to get nutrition from it. He was covered in fungus and lice. We went to work immediately. One of the joys of working with Monterey County Equine is that they are a complete mobile equine vet unit. When we got the Long Valley horses, MCE was there in the field with us, doing exams as we loaded them into the trailer - preg checks, age exams, and initial vaccinations. They had a generator, portable ultrasound, and of course, their digital x-ray machine if needed.
So there we were, and Dr. Baker started performing a dental while I started giving him a bath - using a whole bottle of ketchlor. He was doing a whole lot better when we left him for the night, with arrangements for Dr. Baker to meet me the next day for vaccinations and sedation if needed to get him in the trailer.
We named him Ashoka, after the great Indian emperor. Ashoka also means "without suffering", and since that is our goal for him, it seemed appropriate. Soon his coat will grow back! He has gotten multiple baths and is doing better. He loves his lunchtime meal of satin finish, lixotinic, and equine senior.
While we have to use gloves all the time still, Ashoka is in love with people. He is so sweet, and caring. When his hair grows back, I know what a star he will be. He enjoys having his ears scratched, nuzzling against your shoulder, being bathed, and spending time with people. He is blind in his right eye, but it's clearly something he's lived with for a long time because he compensates amazingly well - if his eye didn't look so cloudy (tentative diagnosis is a detached lens), he could probably fool most everyone.
So that is Ashoka, our latest surrender and addition to the barn. Your donations will help Ashoka stay on his protein rich diet, help us give him his baths, get his teeth rechecked in 10 weeks, keep up with his vaccinations, and get his feet back in shape.
Ashoka, and I, thank you.

by Stephanie Nicora on Mon, Mar 19, 2012 @ 12:23 AM

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You can also mail donations directly to The SPCA for Monterey County at: P.O. Box 3058, Monterey, CA 93942. Click here for a printable donation form!

Please make a notation on your check designating where the donations should go such as: participating walkers name/team, Wag n' Walk. Thank you. Your contributions will help more than 12,000 animals whose lives are touched each year by The SPCA for Monterey County.

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