One woman trying to save the life of one starving and abused horse in 1989 has blossomed into an internationally recognized volunteer-based nonprofit, animal welfare organization with a budget of over $1.2 million. Days End Farm Horse Rescue, located in Lisbon, MD, was organized by Kathy Schwartz Howe and houses between fifty and seventy horses on any given day.

Days End Farm Horse Rescue, Inc. was established to foster compassion and responsibility through intervention, education and outreach. Over 1200 adults and children volunteer their efforts to help the farm achieve its mission. Volunteers, ranging in age from six to 65 find enrichment, purpose and satisfaction through caring for unwanted, abused and neglected horses at Days End Farm.

"It takes an army of talents to run a 58-acre farm and volunteers have a significant hand in helping across the board…from rehabilitating horses to office work to planning special events," said Sue Mitchell, Development Director of Days End Farm. "We invest in our volunteers and offered unique training opportunities to learn and grow as they perform jobs of their choice."
In addition to the need for volunteer efforts, Days End Farm has a critical need for financial support. Mitchell explained, "As a nonprofit, we survive on donations from the public. "While we are all feeling the consequences of today's economic instability, the reality here is that the horses need us more now than ever."

The national crisis of the increasing number of unwanted horses due to the 2007 ban on slaughter reinforces the need for Days End's educational and relief efforts. Days End Farm staff members have traveled across the country and around the world providing clinics on horse care, organizing horse rescue organizations and providing law enforcement with the skills to handle equine criminal cases. Staffers also travel to locations of natural disasters and horses in peril to provide critical care.

During its twenty years of operation, Days End Farm has relied on Southern States feed for the nutritional management of their horses. Southern States equine feed offers complete nutritionally balanced feed for horses of any condition, age and use.

In addition to providing nutritional support and guidance for the horses of Days End Farm, individuals adopting horses from Days End Farm receive horse care buckets from Southern States that include items such as hoof picks, fly spray, horse treats, feed coupons and educational resources for the care and maintenance of horses.

"Southern States has a solid reputation in the community and produces quality products. That is exactly the type of company I am proud to partner with," explains Kathy Schwartz Howe, Executive Director of Days End Farm Horse Rescue. "I see this as the beginning of a long and mutually beneficial relationship."

Founded in 1923, Southern States is a Richmond, Va. based farm supply and service cooperative that now has more than 300,000 farmer-members. One of the nation's largest agricultural cooperatives, Southern States provides a wide range of farm inputs, including fertilizer, seed, livestock feed and pet food, animal health supplies and petroleum products, as well as other items for the farm and home. The cooperative serves its members and non-member customers through 1,100 retail outlets. Visit http://www.southernstates.com for more information