Helping Hands Save Livesi X It started with a little girl, a question and a ton of morals — and grew into a nonprofit operating on its own ranch just a few miles northwest of Fargo. "(Our daughter) asked what a kill truck was," said Robert Faulkner, owner, operator and director of Pride and Joy Rescue. "She didn't want them to do it. She wanted to help as many horses as we possibly could." Pride and Joy Rescue is a 501c3 nonprofit in Fargo, N.D., that works to connect the community and horse rescues. "Horses have such a healing power to them," said Connie Faulkner, co-owner, operator and director of Pride and Joy. "If you save them, they'll save you." And save them they do. Connie and Robert have saved more than 10 horses since their inception in 2021. Roughly 1-2 percent of the U.S. equine population is slaughtered each year, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association, with their bodies being sold at livestock auctions for human consumption in places like Mexico, Japan, China, Germany and Indonesia, to name a few. The Faulkners, like many other equine rescues, attend these auctions with the intention of buying the creatures and providing them a loving home until they're deemed ready for adoption.
WRITTEN BY: EMMA VATNSDAL PHOTOS BY: URBAN TOAD MEDIA
14 / THE GOOD LIFE / urbantoadmedia.com
