Fla. ranch for sick horses needs donors

Dec 13, 2008 1 min read

MIAMI (AP) – A West Broward ranch that’s become a haven for sick horses and other animals is struggling to stay open in the economic downturn.

Florida Research Institute for Equine Nurturing Development and Safety, or FRIENDS for short, has suffered a sharp drop in contributions.

It cares for 50 sick horses, eight potbelly pigs, four pygmy goats, three kitties, two miniature donkeys and a pair of peacocks.

The horses suffer from equine infectious anemia, a disease similar to human hepatitis but is dangerous only to horses.

Animals with the disease are often euthanized, but FRIENDS cares for them to keep them alive.