Argyle animal rescue, counseling center hosts fundraiser

Doing what they do, Ranch Hand Rescue in Argyle made a warm, welcoming home for Spirit, a horse who had been abused and was severely injured.

After miraculous treatments and even more miraculous love from his new family at the Ranch, and serving clients healing from their own brokenness, Spirit fell ill with a painful infection. His new caretaker, Bob Williams, shared the story of Spirit’s passing into better hands in an earlier article.

“I sat with him and I explained to him that I tried everything to save him. I told him that I loved him and I was sorry for what I was about to do. We spent the last hours crying, eating treats, getting massaged and took some special photos. I thanked him for all of the people around the world that he has helped,” Williams said.

Spirit’s medical bills, and those of a couple other horses, cost the Ranch about $7,500 and the organization, which offers counseling to veterans, homeless, and traumatized children, could use some help covering the expenses.

Spirit, a horse originally beaten with a baseball bat, had the first ever documented double fusion in his leg in an attempt to repair and straighten it.

Wednesday, the Ranch is hosting a wine social and silent auction from 6-10 p.m. at Bartonville Town Center. Tickets cost $35 in advance, and include a glass of wine, hor d’oeuvres and a raffle ticket. Musical entertainment will be provided by Zach Nytomt.

Williams said last year the Ranch did 46 percent of its work for free. The counselors work with children who have been physically and sexually abused, and have a close alliance with other organizations that serve them.

“Like the animals we take these are the worst of the worst kids, in terms of trauma,” Williams said.

The Ranch also cares for critical care animals, about 25 each year. The Ranch offers something unique and different from horse therapy. Williams said once trauma is uncovered, the counselors can begin to develop a comprehensive plan to treat it.

“Knowing that kids will tell an animal something before they will tell an adult in a traditional office environment,” he said.

Right now, the Ranch has four counselors and a clinical director – and a waiting list for kids. Some animals they have taken in to care for had medical expenses that weren’t budgeted for. The Ranch is trying to rebrand itself to better reflect its mission.

Recently, Williams said, a woman came up to him and started crying, telling him she could not thank him enough because he had given her back her children, a brother and sister who had been abused. They were counseled at Ranch Hand Rescue.

“We have to do a better job of telling that story,” Williams said, of the passion the Ranch has for helping kids.