DEBRA BEYE-BARWICK

Since 1987, the goal of F.R.I.E.N.D.S. has been to save healthy horses from unnecessary slaughter and destruction and to offer them a life in sanctuary.

F.R.I.E.N.D.S. mission and vision is to provide a permanent haven for all horses that are asymptomatic carriers of Equine Infectious Anaemia within the State of Florida, and to aid any horse in immediate need of assistance in Broward County and the tri-county area. In doing this, they help prevent unnecessary neglect and abuse, and needless destruction.

All horses that react positively to the Coggins Test in the US must be either; slaughtered, euthanased, or quarantined. Unfortunately most people do not own sufficient land to quarantine, and so F.R.I.E.N.D.S. helps prevent 

horse owners from going through the heartbreak of destroying a beloved, and otherwise healthy companion. Instead, they provide researchers access to observe their herd and take blood samples/test tubes to find a better test or a vaccine. F.R.I.E.N.D.S. continues to educate the public about their findings, while working with groups such as Gluck at the University of Kentucky, Nanoe Technologies, Zoetis, Centaur & the USDA.

F.R.I.E.N.D.S. also engages with the public in their interactive community programs, involving them in mutually beneficial interactions whilst both giving back to the community in a productive and positive way and saving horses. They accept any horse that is in need of immediate assistance in the tri county area and offer them a life of sanctuary. Most of the horses they receive are abused, abandoned, or neglected and have nowhere else to go. F.R.I.E.N.D.S. educate volunteers about the time required to properly care for a horse, the true costs of feed, hay, farrier, and medical care. They also explain the commitment required when getting a horse because a horse can live well into their thirties, and that is a long time. It is easy to adopt or buy a horse. But what is not easy is the true responsibility of horse ownership.

F.R.I.E.N.D.S. primary financial goal is to acquire sustainable funding to provide these noble animals with the dignity of allowing them to live out their lives and having their needs met, while providing the proper care and loving interactions they deserve. Thus, meeting both their physical and psychological needs.

It is F.R.I.E.N.D.S. moral position that they must continue to advocate for and participate in ongoing research to find a cure, vaccine or aid in creating more accurate testing for EIA. It is also their intention to factually educate the public regarding EIA thus allowing them to dispel the myths and misconceptions that lead owners to think their only legal alternative is to euthanize their horse.

It is their ethical obligation to the surrounding communities that they will continue to give back to them in a worthwhile and enriching way by maintaining and enhancing many programs that benefit local families and organisations thereby positively impacting the entire community.

The organisation’s policy is to give every horse that comes to F.R.I.E.N.D.S. a “Forever Home”. They do not buy, sell, trade, or give away horses. However, they do have a very popular “Sponsorship Program” that teaches people what kind of responsibility is involved in horse ownership before they go out and get a horse of their own. Families learn the time required to care for a horse, the funds required to cover their expenses, how much they have to learn, and understand the commitment that a horse can live to be 30+ years. They also offer a program for kids ages 6-10 years old called the “Magical Mini Program” and a very active “Volunteer Membership Program”. They are Broward County’s oldest and largest horse rescue, and only sanctuary.

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