Eden Farm Animal Sanctuary

Local Horses Rescued 

 Owners charged with neglect

The Daily Mining Gazette  July 14,  2010

 

AURA - When horses Indigo and Moon needed saving, Kristen Hill, the founder of the Eden Farm Animal Sanctuary, was there, all over again.

Hill recently took in the two horses, which were removed from their homes in Boston Location because of neglect.

"We were contacted a couple of weeks ago to see if we could take them in in case they were seized," Hill said. "Then I was told it was Indigo and Moon, which were two horses I rescued personally in 2007."

Because of the history, Hill wasted no time in bringing them in.

"They were in very poor shape, they had no energy, you could see almost every bone in their bodies," Hill said. "They couldn't trot, they were dragging their feet, they were infested with worms and their hooves hadn't been trimmed in close to a year."

The two horses were owned by Tara Ahonen and John Beaudoin of Boston Location, who were arraigned in Houghton County District Court on Monday for animal abandonment/cruelty.

"We're working with the horses now, and they're improving every day," Hill said. "I think that they will fully recover, besides some broken bones in the face."

In 2007 it was a similar situation that brought the two horses together.

"They both came from some pretty grim situations," Hill said. "Indigo's whole family was starved, one of his brothers died. Moon didn't have access to shelter or food, but when they met they immediately became best friends, gaining weight quickly and helping each other grow."

The horses w$ eventually given to Ahonen, who Hill said very much so favored Moon.

"Apparently the people liked Moon, but not Indigo, and Indigo is a very sensitive and smart horse," Hill said. "He has wounds and scars on him and an untreated injury on his back leg from being tied to a tree. When I had them before Indigo was the leader, the protector of the two, but now it's the opposite, Indigo is clinging on to Moon."

The horses will stay at the Eden Farm Animal Sanctuary in Aura for the rest of their lives, where they will join other farm animals that had to be saved.

Ahonen and Beaudoin both pleaded not guilty in court Monday, and asked for attorneys. They will return to court on July 26 and could receive up to one year in jail, a $2,000 fine or 300 hours of community service.

 

~Michael H. Babcock can be reached at mbabcock@mininggazette.com

Horses were severely starved, had worms, and cracked hooves 

WLUC TV6 News  07-12-2010

AURA -- It's going to be a long road to recovery for Moon and Indigo, two horses who were starved so badly that their rib cages are visible and their hip bones are protruding from underneath their skin.

The pair was rescued from a Hancock residence last week and brought to recover at the Eden Farm Animal Sanctuary in Aura.  It isn't their first time living with the sanctuary's founder, Kristen Hill.  Hill first rescued the horses in 2007, but after they got better, they were adopted to a woman who eventually gave them to the couple charged with their abuse.

The sheriff's office has now restored full-ownership to Hill who says she won't let them go again.

"Once I got them home, I gave them a good look-over," says Hill.  "My heart's broken, but I’m relieved at the same time that they're home and will be healed again."

Monday morning, 27-year-old Tara Lynn Ahonen and 36-year-old John Patrick Beaudoin were arraigned in Houghton County District Court.  Both pled not guilty to the misdemeanor charge of animal abandonment and cruelty.

After court, the couple said they were shocked by the charges.  They admitted they didn't know much about raising horses, but they thought they were helping out when they took the animals in last fall.

But Hill doesn't buy it.  In addition to starvation, both horses are suffering from worms and cracked hooves.  And Indigo has fractured bones below his right eye.

"It takes a long time to get a horse into a condition like this," Hill says.  "I think they were starved for a long period of time."

Hill says the horses are already more relaxed and their health should continue to improve over the next few months.

As for Ahonen and Beaudoin, they'll both be back in court for a pretrial hearing on July 26.  If convicted they face up to a year in jail.

~Ashley Palumbo WLUC TV6 NEWS 

 Eden Farm Animal Sanctuary busy in Aura

 

HOME SAFE AGAIN!--Kristen Hill and Dennis McCabe are the heart of Eden Farm Animal Sanctuary in Aura. Ten acres welcomes farm animals from abusive situations. With the couple are Indigo (l) and Moon. Both were originally brought to the farm and adopted out only to return several years later after taken from abusive owners.

The L'Anse Sentinel  Wednesday, July 28, 2010

 The recent story of two abused horses removed from property in Houghton County has brought light to a newly formed animal sanctuary here in Baraga County.
   The Eden Farm Animal Sanctuary is run under the leadership of Kristen Hill and is located on Townline Road in Aura. Hill said she, Jean Hill, Joan Hill and Dennis McCabe, along with several other individuals, decided to set up the sanctuary this year.
   “We have others coming on board,” Hill said. “As we grow, we’ll get more into positions. We have an attorney helping us with our federal non-profit status (501 c 3). Hopefully that will be set up by this fall.”

~Chris Ford, L'Anse Sentinel

Update on Neglected Horses

Pep in their step!

WLUC TV6 NEWS  August 11, 2010

AURA -- It's been a little more than a month since those two starving horses were rescued from a Hancock residence, but they're already well on their way to recovery.

Moon and Indigo now have some pep in their step and a healthy appetite, which is helping them pack on some much-needed pounds.  Their ribs and hip bones are much less visible than they were in early July, and owner Kristen Hill says they've gotten rid of their worms.

A vet has checked on their cracked hooves, which are still in rough shape, but it will take some time for nutrients to be restored.

"I think they know they're safe now and are going to be taken care of.  They're much more relaxed and trusting and playful, which is really good," said Hill.

Tara Lynn Ahonen, 27, and 36-year-old John Patrick Beaudoin, both pled not guilty to charges of animal abandonment and cruelty in July.

They're due back in court for a pretrial hearing on August 16.

~Ashley Palumbo WLUC TV6 NEWS 

 

Sanctuary is home to more than 100 animals

WLUC TV6 NEWS  9-21-2010

BARAGA COUNTY -- More than 100 animals that were once neglected and abused are now happier and healthier living at their new home.

The Eden Farm Animal Sanctuary was founded earlier this year by Kristen Hill.

"There’s a huge need for this kind of safe haven," says Hill.  "Usually, if a farm animal is seized, there's no place to put them, so we can offer that.  Also for owner surrenders, with the economy being as bad as it is, a lot of people are having a tough time."

Of course caring for all of the animals has gotten costly.  So far Hill has funded the sanctuary with her own money and a few donations.  In the future, she's hoping to apply for grants and start a public sponsorship program for each of the animals.

"Right now we go through about 5,000 pounds of hay each week," Hill says.  "That’s about 20,000 pounds of hay each month.  It's a lot."

In addition to money, many of the animals require extra time and attention because of lingering injuries or illnesses.

Jean Hill volunteers at the sanctuary a few days a week and says the work is hard but worthwhile.

"Just to see them in a safe place, doing well and happy--that's the payoff.  I do what I can, feed, water, and spend time with them," said Hill.

While the sanctuary is all about healing the animals, Kristen says there's a lot the animals can do to heal people, too.  She says visitors are always welcome, and she has plans to start therapeutic horseback riding lessons with the animals who are healthy enough next spring.

~Ashley Palumbo WLUC TV6 NEWS