July at Houghton Healing & Therapy: New Beginnings, Healing, and Hope

July has already been a busy and exciting month at Houghton Healing & Therapy! As always, our mission remains the same—to provide lifelong sanctuary for animals in need while sharing their incredible stories and giving them a purpose through our community outreach.

Welcoming New Family Members

This month, we were honored to welcome two very special additions to our sanctuary family: Sandy and Terry, two sweet Jersey cows. These bottle-raised siblings are incredibly friendly and love attention. After finding themselves in a heartbreaking situation where they were no longer receiving proper care, they were rescued by our farrier. Unable to provide them with a permanent home, he reached out to us, and we were happy to give them the forever home they deserve.

Our sanctuary family is also about to grow again! This week, we will be welcoming a llama and a miniature donkey from a fellow sanctuary that has made the difficult decision to close its doors. While it's always heartbreaking to see another rescue close, we're grateful to be able to provide these animals with a safe place to continue their journey.

Searcher's Journey Continues

One of our youngest residents, Searcher, continues to amaze us with his determination. After being born with severely crooked legs, he underwent life-changing surgery that has allowed his legs to straighten dramatically.

This month, Searcher will have his second surgery to remove the hardware placed during his first procedure. This is the final step before he can truly enjoy life as a healthy young horse—running, playing, and growing up pain-free. We are still working to raise the remaining $600 needed to cover this surgery, and every donation, no matter the size, helps make his future possible.

Caring for Our Newest Horses

Our veterinarian will also be visiting the sanctuary this month to examine several of our newest equine residents.

Alfie, Prince, and Trigger will each receive comprehensive evaluations as we continue learning about their individual needs and creating care plans to help them thrive. Every new arrival has their own story, and we are committed to giving each one the specialized care they deserve.

Sharing the Healing Power of Horses

One of the most rewarding parts of our mission is showing that horses don't have to be ridden to have purpose.

This month, Athena, Ranger, and Sawyer visited Melody Assisted Living and Memory Care, where they brought smiles, comfort, and countless wonderful memories to residents. Watching people light up as they pet, hug, and interact with our horses is a reminder that retirement doesn't mean the end of a meaningful life. Our senior and retired horses continue making a difference simply by sharing their gentle hearts.

An Immediate Need for Hay

As quickly as things have been happening this month, we've also reached one of our biggest challenges. We have officially fed our last inventory of hay and are now immediately fundraising to purchase our next supply.

Hay is one of the largest and most important expenses at the sanctuary. Every horse, cow, llama, and donkey in our care depends on it every single day. With new animals arriving and so many seniors requiring consistent nutrition, running out simply isn't an option.

If you have been considering supporting our mission, now is one of the most impactful times to help. Every donation—large or small—goes directly toward providing hay and ensuring our sanctuary residents continue receiving the care they deserve.

Thank You

None of this would be possible without our incredible supporters. Every donation, sponsorship, volunteer hour, and share of our mission allows us to continue saying "yes" to animals who need a second chance.

As we continue through July, we'll be cheering Searcher on during surgery, welcoming even more new sanctuary residents, providing specialized veterinary care for our newest horses, and continuing to share the healing power of animals with our community. Thank you for believing in our mission and for helping us change lives—one animal at a time.