P.E.I. horse sanctuary at full capacity looks for more support

Dianne Foerg knows how much work it takes to take care of a single horse, let alone a whole herd of them. 

At the Wild Rose Horse Sanctuary in Forest Hill, P.E.I., she and her grandniece tend to more than 70 horses, ponies and donkeys, who she says had previously been destined for slaughter.

"We wanted to do our part and just save this group of animals here," she said.

Foerg and her late husband, Gerhard, moved to P.E.I. from Ontario in 2016, bringing with them dozens of animals they had purchased from horse kill sales. Many of the horses had been neglected or starved, and could no longer work on the farms they were on. 

It's gotten harder to run the sanctuary since Gerhard passed away a couple of years ago, Foerg said.

"It's a struggle. We just take it day by day, is all we do," she said.

Now, Foerg's great-niece, Kaelyn Oosterveld, has been helping with the workload at the farm.

"Ever since I moved in with my aunts, we just were around animals," she said. "I just really like saving animals."

Foerg said she's learned to do more around the farm since her husband died, but she's grateful for the community help.

"We need more help, that's the bottom line. We need the help," she said. 

"I've realized it's a lot for two of us to do." 

Supporters are trying to help the sanctuary. Some are volunteering their time. Others are fundraising or donating hay and other necessities.

Jacqui Chaisson has been helping Foerg with some work around the farm. She said it's been "heartbreaking" watching her friend struggle with the growing workload and costs associated with the sanctuary.

"It's more work than people can imagine," she said.