It has been another very busy year for the Georgia Equine Rescue League, Ltd (GERL). We have had many great successes in 2019. We started off the year with the rescue of 5 horses from what was a very bad situation. With a lot of hard work from one of our area coordinators, Gloria Bell, and many other concerned animal heroes, all the horses were placed in forever homes. GERL picked up the tab for feed, hay and vet care, including 2 castrations.
In February we held the GERL Annual Meeting at the Winder Lion’s Club. Tamma Trump was named recipient of the Marty Paulk Cheerleader award. God knows she deserved it. She has worked so hard with the Rescue Challenge and other aspects of GERL. For those of you that may be unaware, Tamma is relocating to Tennessee at the end of this year. She will be missed by all of us that know and love her.
In April GERL Kicked off its own Help a Horse Campaign. This turned out to be one of the most successful events of the year; Not in a financial sense but finding forever homes for 15 horses’ type of success. Several GERL volunteers worked very hard to write stories, take pictures, videos, and promote these horses that had been in the Department of Agriculture’s impound barns far too long.
Also in April, we held the Andee Rogers Memorial Poker Ride at Faucett Farms in Dawsonville, Ga. It was an outstanding success. Thanks to Amy Cox and her group of volunteers who worked hard to pull this event together each year. It was a beautiful day to ride, play games, and have a good time. The food and camaraderie at the event were awesome.
In June of this year we were asked by Jones and Oconee counties to assist them with the purchase of shelters and fencing for their new equine holding pens they wanted to add to their Animal Control facilities. GERL is happy to help any county law enforcement entity that is willing to prosecute animal neglect and cruelty and has been offering this support to law enforcement for the past 10 years.
In July GERL held a very successful Equine Training for Law Enforcement and Animal Control in LaGrange. This is a very important program that is hosted twice a year by GERL. These programs provide hands on training with equine, instruction on how identify cruelty and neglect, how to investigate a case, and what the prosecutor is looking for in able to successfully prosecute an animal cruelty case.
In early October we held the 6th annual GERL Rescue Challenge. We had a great turn out. All the trainers, horses, and judges were excellent. Medieval Times was our entertainment and they “wowed” everybody! Thanks, again, to Tamma Trump and all the volunteers who work hard to make this event happen.
In November GERL held our second Equine training for law enforcement and animal control officers in Marietta (Cobb County). We had an excellent turnout. The interest of law enforcement is increasing all the time.
In December we celebrated the annual GERL Christmas party at GERL President, Patty Livingston’s house in Bethlehem. This party is always well-attended and a great time.
I can’t wait to see what next year holds for GERL!
“The highest reward for your working is not what you get for it, but what you become by it.”
By Sidney Harris
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If you missed any of these articles and are interested in reading the newsletter, you may go to www.gerlltd.org They are located in the newsletter archives.
