About Us
Our Team
Alaska Equine Rescue is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, managed by a dedicated group of volunteer directors. Our passion for horses and other equine fuel our mission to help starving, abused, and neglected hooved animals in Alaska. Current board members and officers include:
- Heather Robb, President and Certified Equine Cruelty Investigator
- Kellie Ballard, Vice President and Certified Equine Cruelty Investigator
- Becky Ross, Secretary and Certified Equine Cruelty Investigator
- Gary Ross, Treasurer
- Zoe Weston, Board Member
- Lori Hackberger, Board Member
- Ruth Smith, Board Member
What Do We Do?
- AER nurtures neglected horses back to health and adopts them to responsible new homes.
- AER provides temporary assistance to horses and horse owners who need help with hay, grain, veterinary or farrier services.
- AER provides foster care to horses in the custody of local or state authorities (either voluntarily relinquished or taken into protective custody) as requested.
- AER may accept horses from private owners who are no longer able to keep their horses and have been unsuccessful making other arrangements. Accepting horses into the group may depend upon AER's current resources, the adoptability of the horse, and other circumstances.
- AER accepts calls from people who wish to report neglect and abuse, and does not reveal the names of anonymous callers to authorities.
What Don't We Do?
- AER is not a law enforcement agency and does not confiscate horses from private horse owners.
- If a law enforcement agency such as Alaska State Troopers or Animal Control takes a horse into protective custody, AER will provide foster care services to the horse for the agency at their request, but the horse remains under their jurisdiction until final disposition is determined. If either an owner or an agency legally relinquishes ownership and title of an animal to AER, it then becomes our property and may be adopted out to a new permanent home when it is ready.
- AER does not settle civil ownership disputes. If there is an element of abuse, neglect, or cruelty, we will defer to law enforcement to begin an investigation.
- AER is not a sanctuary. Unless there is an element of neglect, cruelty, or abuse, we do not take aged or unusable horses that can be cared for by their owners.
Help Our Cause
Your support and contributions will enable us to provide feed, vet, and farrier care to horses in need, as well as fund our scholarship program to educate law enforcement and other equine professionals through Code 3 Associates Certified Equine Investigations Academy.
