Habitat For Horses

I just got an urgent donation outreach from Habitat for 200 horses rescued from a dairy in Conroe, TX. Turns out, that after some fact checking, the Houston SPCA actually has control of the animals, and habitat has taken about 7 of the worst ones. Unclear if fund raising or horse rescue it the primary mission of HfH.

I had Habitat for Horses recue my horse out of a bad boarding situation back in the area of 2002 or so. I had them do this because I am NY based and was in my early 20’s at the time, and no where else to turn. I had sent him to be retired in Texas as I was told he would have a better life there than my $ 450 a month could buy him on the East Coast. Within the first 6 – 9 months the horse has a severe hock injury and also was getting skinny at that boarding situation, I had to move him. Not knowing what to do from so far away I reached out to Habitat for horses. Two women there at the time, Debbie Pendleton & Jennifer were VERY helpful, and did bring my horse back safely to HFH where I paid them to board him for me for a year or so. As I was no longer in a financial place to keep up his monthly care donation, I asked them to find him a home. They did, moving the horse to their Jacksonville, Florida chapter (now defunct by the way).
A woman named Chris Dunn worked for the organization and adopted my horse out to a ‘great home’ with a man named Frank Lawlor. Well it turns out this guy is a con artist and has used over 24 addresses since 1998– he is a gypsy and not the ‘successful business owner’ Habitat for Horses told me he was. The guy has foreclosures all around. I know this because I eventually hired a private investigator to find out what happened to the horse (I am older now, and back in a financially sound place so I wanted to see if he was well, and also put it out there if in the future Frank could no longer care for the horse I would take him back). I definitely have better things to do with my time than spend hundreds of dollars to gain information a responsible rescue would have on file, but felt it was necessary responsibility to the horse since Habitat for Horses refused to follow up with their adopter after the initial 1 year period, or to be honest with me (til today) that they have actually been unable to reach him for years) so sloppy!
I spoke to a woman named Rebecca on the phone asking if she could provide any info that might help the investigator reach Frank. Again my only interest is in finding the horse and seeing if he is safe– you think a reputable rescue would want to assist in that endeavor– however they didn’t. The woman Rebecca was completely rude on the phone, did not have the correct facts about my situation and history, and insulted me several times.
Bottom line the rescue is not a good rescue, they care more adoption rate than actually knowing what happens to the horses they adopt out. It is obvious if they had done preliminary background check it would have been clear this is not a man worthy of owning an animal. The fact that after 2 years they do not need to check up in the adopters is ridiculous. You are basically saving a horse only to have it go back out to a worse situation later on.
I am heartbroken as any sort of scumbag like this Frank Lawlor is I am sure my horse was either was neglected or sold to auction and probably ended up in a slaughterhouse. What a shame for a beautiful and much loved horse. I obviously feel extremely guilty I diid not push harder earlier on.
This rescue is a farce and the people absolutely do not have the best interest of the horses in mind of they would never conduct themselves that way. Shame on you Habitat for Horses!

Habitat For Horses saves the lives of horses!!!
Every 5 minutes an American Horse is slaughtered for human or dog consumption. Stop the slaughter by supporting and donating to this amazing organization.
Texas closed the slaughter houses; but, the Federal Government did not get the message…
Please join the thousands of others in support of the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act.
Lone Star Equine Rescue: