Santa Comes Early to Theft Victim
and NetPosse Volunteer!
Shelby, NC – Stolen Horse International, the only 501(c)3 nonprofit organization providing equine-related theft education and recovery assistance, has grown over the last decade due to the dedication of volunteers in the United States and across the world. Whether or not they have ever experienced the heartache of searching for a horse due to theft, a bad sale or for any othe r reason, these compassionate people reach out on a daily basis to those who have.
This decade-old, nonprofit organization, known by many as NetPosse, exists to educate horse owners regarding equine-related theft and also assist in the recovery of stolen and missing horses. However, despite the thousands of professionals and everyday horse people NetPosse connects with every year, none of us is immune to equine-related theft and none of us can protect ourselves 100 percent from losing a horse.
When our volunteers experience this unexpected situation and have a missing horse, they are thrown into a world that they had once not fully understood. Many horse enthusiasts who frequent Internet groups receive NetPosse.com Idaho Alerts posted by these same volunteers.
Michelle Gordon is one of those NetPosse volunteers who spends hours each week networking on behalf of the stolen and missing horses. Her story is one we hear frequently at SHI headquarters involving what we call “civil theft” – where horses are missing in bad agreements with board barns, family members, trainers, and the l ike. And while Michelle isn’t alone, she really can count her blessings this Christmas season.
Elated by the successful recovery of her horses, Michelle tells the story in her own words, but it really didn’t start in the summer of 2008. In fact, this story has more twists and turns than Santa guiding his reindeer and sleigh through the rooftops on Christmas Eve.
One of the horses featured in Michelle’s story is a registered quarter horse affectionately known as Tue. He first appeared on NetPosse’s Web site in October 2002 when he was stolen with his dam. While the horses were recovered, Tue went on shortly t hereafter to unfortunate circumstances from which he had to be rescued. Five years ago, he was Michelle’s Christmas present from her loving husband. Now, he and his buddy Digger are home again … just in time for the holidays ... after someone saw the horses' NetPosse flyer in a local store.
This story might not become a Christmas Classic, but we hope it provides hope and a feeling of goodwill for all those who read it this holiday season at this link: http://www.netposse.com/HomeForTheHolidays.htm
But remember … while Michelle’s family has experienced its miracle, there are still many heart-broken children because all they want for Christmas is their horses home. The thing is YOU can be that miracle. It only takes one person to forward an email or post a flyer that could lead to the recovery of a horse … and make a child’s Christmas wish come true!
To view more missing and stolen horses, including Max from Illinois and Mandy from Alberta, please visit http://www.netposse.com
For more information, contact: Debi Metcalfe or Angela Kirby
PO Box 1341, Shelby, NC 28151
704-484-2165, Cell: 704-472-4314
Email: stolenhorse@netposse.com
www.netposse.com
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2 comments:
First, we sincerely appreciate this story being circulated! Wherever we can reach a new section of the horse community, we can teach people how to protect their horses.
That being said ... it is critical that when these NetPosse news and alerts are reposted that people pay attention to the copyright. This story is not to be changed in any way. Changing the title opens NetPosse up to liability that this nonprofit cannot afford. It is also not fair to the author. I understand the desire to be creative, but that is why we have the copyright.
In this case, it is NOT Horse THEFT. It is a civil case where the owner had to find and repurchase her horses after she was deceived by someone she trusted. Calling this a theft could cause NetPosse to have to defend itself to those who know the parties involved.
Again, we appreciate this story being posted, and I do not want to sound ungrateful but please respect the copyright and reasons behind it.
Sincerely, Angela Kirby
MY APOLOGIES! Debi just informed me that she altered the title before sending it out.
Unfortunately, we've had a real problem with people taking the stories or alerts we send out and stripping them of our info, and of actual news media using materials from the website without permission and without credit.
Again ... I'm sorry that I thought the person posting it altered it!
Angela
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