By Sally Deering

Horse stories like the Broadway play “War Horse” pay tribute to the majesty of these four-legged warriors and sometimes, in real-life, horse stories can be heartbreaking. Nobody knows that better than Diane Cirone-Gogates of Jersey City who volunteers with the Arabian Rescue Mission (ARM) that rescues, rehabilitates and finds loving homes for abused horses. Animal advocates and their friends and families are invited to show their support for the Arabian Rescue Mission on Sat, Oct. 13 when Cirone-Gogates puts on a foot-stomping fundraiser where a $15 donation will help pay for medical expenses, winter hay and blankets for the rescues. 

“Iâ€ve been rescuing dogs and cats my entire life,” Cirone-Gogates says. “I went to the Washington stables and asked if I could volunteer and they put me in touch with the Arabian Rescue Mission. I got heartbroken over these animals. They have no people to love them and many are dying.”

ARM is a non-profit founded by Terry Figueroa in 2003 to rescue Arabian horses in need. In addition to Arabians, ARM helps other breeds, too, and has facilities in Colesville, New Jersey and Glasgow, Kentucky. ARM just completed its fourth rescue this year – a herd of 20 horses from Tennessee – which adds up to more than 200 horses rescued just this year.

“We found homes for all but three,” Cirone-Gogates says. “The three that we havenâ€t found homes for will come to Colesville to be treated.”

Cirone-Gogates even adopted a rescue from upstate New York and named him Doublestuff after the Oreo cookie.

“Heâ€s the sweetest love in the world,” Cirone-Gogates says. “Somebody chopped off his tail, he was a mess, but heâ€s good now.”

Volunteering with the Arabian Rescue Mission is important to Cirone-Gogates, but she wants to do more. Thatâ€s why she and her family are sponsoring the fundraiser at the Moose Lodge in Jersey City and working hard to make sure itâ€s a fun night for a great cause. The band “Alright Spider” will play rock you can dance to and Cirone-Gogates will be cooking some hearty dishes like sausage and peppers, chicken parm, meatballs, and baked ziti.  Thereâ€ll be an open bar, 50/50s and baskets of wine raffled off to lucky winners – all for a $15 donation with proceeds helping save the horses.

“This is a family affair,” Cirone-Gogates says. “My mom, Anne, my sisters Joan, Mary and Patricia, my husband Michael and my son and daughter Michael and Laura – weâ€re all pulling together for these animals.”

To get the word out, Cirone-Gogates is reaching out to animal advocates through her Facebook page and other venues.  A $15 donation will go a long way, she says, to help these horses with needed medical care and to find loving owners to care for them.

“Come out and listen to some lively music, have some great food and donate to a good cause,” Cirone-Gogates says.

Because if youâ€ve ever loved a good horse story like “Black Beauty” and “Old Yeller” or if youâ€ve seen the Broadway show “War Horse,” hereâ€s your chance to do some good for real-life horses who need serious medical attention and a lot of human kindness.

If You Go:

Sat, Oct 13, 7 pm

Benefit for the Arabian Rescue Mission

Moose Lodge

60 West Side Ave

Jersey City

Donation $15

For more info call (201) 289-6627

Visit the website:  www.arabianrescuemission.org

 

You can send your donation to:

Arabian Rescue Mission 42 Glen Road

Colesville, NJ 07461 For more info: (973) 948-9471;

info@arabianrescuemission.org

 

 

 

The post Showing Human Kindness to Majestic Animals first appeared on River View Observer.