Most people are familiar with the kind of animal rescue groups that save our smaller furry friends like dogs, cats, and even ferrets.
But lesser known is a rescue charity north of Calgary dedicated to helping horses.
Bear Valley Rescue has saved found homes for hundreds of horses.
The horse rescue is run by Kathy and Mike Bartley.
The couple visit auctions and feedlots to give horses a chance, but as they've become more well known, horses come to them.
"Our mandate is to try and save slaughter bound horses but a lot of times people will say, well if you don't take the horse, it will go for meat," commented Kathy Bartley.
Bear Valley Rescue is a registered charity, but even with grants and private donations, the Bartleys spend a lot of their own money on their mission to save horses.
They rescue all ages, and some find a forever home with the rescue.
"If they're older horses, if they have health issues, we try and improve their quality of life. Sometimes they need a lot of fattening up because they're in such bad shape. We've had quite a few starvations come in," added Kathy Bartley.
Janine Falck volunteers with Bear Valley Rescue.
She met the couple when looking for a companion for her horse.
She says she's learned a lot from the Bartleys.
"Learning how to be in the world and that you can actually do something. So it's inspiring and humbling and empowering that you can actually take something on and carry it through and there's a living animal because of the rescue," said Falck.
The rescue has about 100 horses now. The Bartleys say volunteers and generous neighbours donate things like pasture land which help them make a difference.
Falck says the Bartleys compassion and sense of obligation is boundless.
"So that even though it's physically exhausting and financially difficult, it's emotionally wrenching, but they get up every day and they do it all day," added Falck.
The couple has placed about 350 horses since 2003.
The Bartleys say all colts are gelded and mares are only adopted out if it's agreed they will not be bred.
The horses up for adoption are on the website www.bearvalleyab.org.
