If you're in the equine industry, you can't help but know about the many groups that struggle daily to save horses and give them new lives in better homes. You see their ads in local horse magazines, get their pleas for contributions in the mail, and read their stories in national publications. Your heart softens and your conscience urges you to help out: adopt a horse, donate money, volunteer your time--do something, anything, to make a difference. But before you jump headlong into such worthy and charitable action, ask yourself one more question: Am I being scammed?

The cold fact is, not every equine adoption or rescue organization is legitimate, no matter how official they might appear. Even those whose hearts are in the right place might not have sufficient knowledge to address the best interests of the horses or the people involved. Making matters worse, there are no overriding regulatory bodies to supervise these groups' existence or activities.

Thankfully, it's not as hard as you might think to sift the good from the bad. In this story, we'll give you all the tips you'll need to find out if a particular organization is truly worthy of your time, money, and concern. We'll tell you what to expect from the adoption process, relate some true adoption stories, and introduce you to an equine welfare organization with a slightly different twist.

Full Story: http://thehorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=205