Langdon horse rescue saves animals from slaughter in growing numbers during Alberta recession

Longtime Langdon resident Brenda Fehr operates Dare to DreamHorse Rescue, an effort that spares animals from a fate in the slaughterhouse and has seen a growing demand in the wake of Alberta's economic downturn.

"Most often people have lost their jobs and it's a matter ofeither they eat or the horses eat," Langdon told theCalgary Eyeopeneron Friday.

"And they don't want to ship them to slaughter, so they're trying their best to find them a home."

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Fehr and her husband decided to open the horse rescue nine years ago, after purchasing three of their own animals from a rescue facility. They rescued about 150 horses since then.

Now, she gets as many as three calls a week to take in horses.

Fehrsaid she's learned that young horses are often purchased by meat buyers and fattened up over time while older horses are often sent straight through to be sold for meat in the southern U.S. and in Europe, and that's something she hopes to prevent from happening, as much as she can.

"I just love the horses," she said. "In my opinion, every horse deserves a chance at a good life."

The rescue is funded by donations.

Langdonis about 30 kilometres east of Calgary.

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With files from the Calgary Eyeopener