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Caitlin @ Rancho Relaxo

@boochaces

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🐴 Rancho Relaxo is a 501c3 nonprofit focusing on saving at risk animals and urging the world to embrace compassion.
🐌 PO Box 258 Woodstown NJ 08098

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I can always count on Dot to make me laugh. And while watching her beg for treats in her own silly way, it reminds me why I originally started a sanctuary for animals in need. Rancho Relaxo provides a safe space where rescued residents can finally let their guards down. There is nothing more beautiful than watching a once abused/neglected/terrified animal realize they are no longer viewed as a something … but a someone instead. Once they settle into that peace, their true personalities completely shine through. Clearly. 💜😭👅 by @boochaces

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12 days ago

This week, I was watching the baby elephants emerge from an adventure in the tall grass and I was transported back to when the brothers tasted their very first PB&J sammies. I had to share with all of you. Topsy, Tube Sock and Wimp had a rough start in life (especially Wimpy) — but they fought. They fought so hard to be here and I could not be more proud of them! This is what sanctuary can do for animals who are in desperate need of saving. They can live. They can thrive. 😭💜 The quieter I am on social media, the busier it is here at the sanctuary. I promise, at some point, I will post more frequently on all platforms again! We have just been drowning in work (property projects, intense medical care for some of our residents, lack of help so we are forced to do more, emergencies, vet visits, general farm chores, etc.)! Actually, this is the busiest we have EVER been since starting the sanctuary nearly 15 years ago. Please forgive me and PLEASE continue to support our life-saving mission — as we couldn’t do this work without you all. by @boochaces

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16 days ago

Under a video of Mr. Handsome, I noticed some negativity in the comment section. One person was insinuating people should not donate to our nonprofit because we are trying to tell the world that Mr. Handsome is a horse — when in actuality, he is clearly a mule. And the other person was just saying if he is a horse, he is ugly. I will never understand people like this. I did take this opportunity to take some videos of Mr. Handsome munching his hay to share with you all and make a fundraiser in the bullies’ names. Maybe we can raise some funds for the animals in their honor! All donations are tax deductible! PYPL boochaces@aol.com / VNMO boochaces 💜💜💜 That being said, Mr. Handsome is doing great! He has befriended one of our other rescued senior geldings, Nick!!! Nick fell through the floor of a hay loft while starving/searching for food. He had to climb barn stairs to get up there. This was many years ago and he has fully recovered from his injuries. Anyway, an adorable bromance I will be sharing more of! Thank you all so much for the love and support. We couldn’t do this work without you. by @boochaces

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a month ago

The update you’ve all been waiting so patiently for!!!!! 😭💜💜💜 MR. HANDSOME!!!!!!!!! 3 months ago, we rescued a senior horse who was at risk of slaughter. He had collapsed while working — busting his knees and mouth on the pavement. His previous humans could no longer exploit him, as his body was too broken, so they got rid of him. We found out that he lost a qualifier race 20 years ago and was immediately sent to be used as if he was a machine. He never knew love. But since his rescue, he has experienced a lot of joy and firsts. He is still on the road to recovery — as he has more weight to pack on — but he is a happy horse without a worry in the world. The life he deserves. Finally. by @boochaces

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2 months ago

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2 months ago

Hope feels like an impossible thing to obtain when you are faced with constant emotional turmoil due to loss. All of the wins in animal rescue hold the weight of a feather when you are actively experiencing a loss. That loss feels like a boulder the size of a truck — held up on your shoulders. The hundreds of wins combined are a whisper and that one single loss is a blood-curdling scream. For some reason, it is difficult to focus on all of the good that is being done for animals here at the sanctuary while anything negative is simultaneously happening — if we are working a tragic neglect case, if we get bad news from a vet about one of our residents, if we are watching our animal friends grow old (hard one because you want to celebrate them living such a long peaceful life but you aren’t ready to say goodbye). Naturally, the few bad things are spotlit and the overwhelming amount of joy is buried. Animal rescue is fulfilling and beautiful but at the same time … soul-crushing. I often feel hopeless. When I look around at the world in general and see all of the suffering, I feel hopeless. One of the worst things you can do is get comfortable with feeling hopeless — simply being OK with having no hope. That is a dangerous place to be. Over the last 6 months, we have had to say goodbye to a handful of our LONGTIME animal friends. It has been really hard to navigate and I have landed in that dangerous place. It’s a very numb feeling. If you know, you know. ✨ And then, this very week, I was sitting outside of Wimpy’s wallow while he dipped his hooves in. I snapped a couple of photos and smiled because I remembered how hopeless I felt when his fever reached its highest point when he was a newborn. I remembered all of the faith I had for his recovery vanishing when the first antibiotic we tried didn’t work. I remembered convincing myself that he wouldn’t make it — as if the blow would create less of an impact because I prepared myself. I smiled because this amazing pig reminded me, as he cooled off in the mud during a heat wave, that every situation is different and there is always room for hope. Always. Even when you’re feeling defeated. 💜 Thanks, Wimpy. I needed that. by @boochaces

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2 months ago

I will never forget Tommy’s rescue. It was almost 4 years ago to the day that I found him living with the dead body of one of his friends with two inches of hot algae water and no food. He has been through so much. To make matters worse, he is completely blind. Imagine being in that situation, hearing everything but seeing nothing. He used to be so nervous around humans — constantly thinking he was going to be taken away from his herd. Today, he breaks away from his group to get his daily soak. He is no longer nervous around people. He is confident and happy. This is what sanctuary does to the broken. It heals. I am so proud of you, Tommy boy!!!! 💜 As most of you know, we have just come out of a severe heat wave. It was really scary. One of our pot bellied pigs overheated while in his pool. He is OK. We caught it immediately. I have barely been posting because my phone would not stop overheating outside. We also have been working more hours to ensure the animals stay as comfortable as possible. We have been purchasing fresh veggies and fruit every single day, we picked up more fans (just in case), we spent hours refreshing waters and hosing down anyone who wanted it, and we paid an extra team member come in over the weekend. Our expenses for these handful of days were double than normal. We have two generous donors willing to match up to $1,500 to cover these costs. Please consider making a tax deductible donation toward our mission for the animals today. We couldn’t do this life-saving work without you. We really couldn’t. The best way to help? Becoming a monthly donor (link in @hispees bio). One time donations can be made through PYPL boochaces@aol.com / VNMO boochaces 🫂💜 THANK YOU ALL SO VERY MUCH!!!!!! by @boochaces

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3 months ago

I was looking through old videos and came across the one of Gregory’s halter being removed after we rescued him. It was embedded in his skin. I remember how bad it smelled — infection that was brewing for months. I wanted to share it — along with some videos of him this week so you could all see how far he has come. Although he has been through so much, Gregory is a happy boy. He spends his days grazing with his friends and begging for treats. I am proud of the work we do here at Rancho Relaxo. It results in peace for animals who were once neglected, abused or abandoned. I will continue to push forward for the animals. Forever. 😭💜 Thank you all for being here. Without you, this would not be possible. by @boochaces

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3 months ago

I have been meaning to get this update to you all — but it has been nonstop here at the sanctuary. One thing after the other. Thank you for being patient with me. 💜 To say that I was emotional when I saw what was hidden under Mr. Handsome’s rough winter coat after a deep grooming session was an understatement. His body score is even lower than we originally thought. I know he has only been with us a short period, but I wish the weight could pack on faster. It has to be a slow and steady journey. Refeeding programs are necessary for skinny horses because giving too much food to a starved horse too fast can cause Refeeding Syndrome. This is a deadly chemical shock. When you slowly reintroduce food, you protect the horse’s heart, organs, and digestive system while they safely heal. Thankfully, Mr. Handsome is doing well. He is officially out of quarantine, which is something to celebrate. He has been spending time outdoors, soaking up the sun. He has a long way to go but he is already relaxed and happy. I think he finally knows he’s safe. 😭💜 Rancho Relaxo is a 501c3 nonprofit. We are only able to do this life-saving work with your help and generosity. THANK YOU. We currently have a $2,000 donation match from an amazing donor. Please consider clicking the link in @hispees bio to become a patron (best way to help), PYPAL boochaces@aol.com, VNMO boochaces 💜 Every single dollar counts. No donation amount is too small. 🫂 FOR MR. HANDSOME!!!! by @boochaces

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4 months ago

Big day! Mr. Handsome’s first treat testing session! All of our new intakes are offered a variety of treats once they are settled and cleared by the vet so we know which ones are their favorites. There is always a clear winner. It is still fun even though we know what the preferred treat will be. Haha. I think so, anyway! 🤗💜 As most of you know, we rescued Mr. Handsome from a lifetime of abuse and exploitation. His story is a devastating one but we are trying to focus on the present and reassure him that he will only know love from this point on. He still does not like parts of his body touched (especially his head/face). We will go at his pace when it comes to grooming, baths, halter changes, etc. He has only been with us in sanctuary for a couple of weeks. Trust on his end might take a while. Do you blame him? I sure don’t. Thank you all for the love and support you have shown Mr. Handsome. We couldn’t do this life-saving work without you. by @boochaces

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4 months ago

This is a reminder to all of my fellow rescuers out there. I know it is often difficult and emotionally draining. But please try to lean into the beauty of what we do. Celebrate the little wins and simple moments. They all add up to make what we do worth it. Always. Forever. 💜 Tube Sock is such a happy boy. At one point in time, we were worried he was not going to survive due to him being born prematurely. His mother was rescued from a terrible neglect situation while pregnant. It was awful. I am just so glad that he is here with us today, enjoying his life in sanctuary. by @boochaces

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4 months ago

Mr. Handsome is settling in more and more each day. The only big update we have is the big fan we got him to stay cool in his stall! I personally think that he approves. 💜 Recap of his story: This old man lost a qualifier race two decades ago. This loss resulted in him being send to pull a buggy for the rest of his life. Well, until he collapsed on the pavement and busted his knees and face a couple of weeks ago. He was then brought to an auction to be traded up for a “newer model” (not my words). by @boochaces

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4 months ago