Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance Accredits South Florida SPCA Horse Rescue

(HOMESTEAD, FL – November 3, 2015) The Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance announced today that South Florida SPCA Horse Rescue (SFSPCA) has earned accreditation by the organization. SFSPCA is one of only 56 TAA accredited aftercare organizations in the United States and Canada. Thirty-seven aftercare organizations have earned accreditation in 2015*, of which 21 were re-accredited and 16 earned accreditation for the first time.

“These organizations have gone through a rigorous accreditation process and have met or exceeded our Code of Standards,” praised Jimmy Bell, TAA president. “Our donors should feel confident that their investments in the TAA are going to organizations that provide the best care possible to our retired equine athletes.”

To earn accreditation, organizations are evaluated upon their submitted application covering five key areas: operations, education, horse health care management, facility standards and services, and adoption policies and protocols. In addition to an extensive application review, all organizations are subject to site inspections of all facilities housing their horses. Accreditation is effective for two years, after which organizations must reapply for accreditation. Accredited aftercare organizations are eligible to receive grants from the TAA to support their operations.

“South Florida SPCA is proud to join the esteemed ranks of organizations accredited by the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance,” said SFSPCA president Kathleen Monahan. “We appreciate the excellent work performed by the TAA in support of retired equine athletes and are humbled by its recognition of us as an organization that provides the best possible care to these horses. Thank you to the TAA and the supporting owners, trainers, breeders, aftercare professionals, and industry groups for this recognition and support of South Florida SPCA’s mission. Congratulations to all of our fellow accredited organizations on this great achievement.”

Based in Lexington, Kentucky, the non-profit Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance accredits, inspects and awards grants to approved aftercare organizations to retire, retrain and rehome Thoroughbreds using industry-wide funding. Funded initially by seed money from Breeders’ Cup Ltd., The Jockey Club, and Keeneland Association, the TAA is supported by owners, trainers, breeders, racetracks, aftercare professionals and other industry groups. To learn more about the TAA, visit thoroughbredaftercare.org.

*The 37 organizations accredited this year are After The Homestretch – Arizona; Akindale Thoroughbred Rescue; Beyond The Roses Equine Rescue & Retirement; Brook Hill Retirement Center for Horses, Inc.; CANTER California; CANTER Colorado; CANTER Kentucky; CANTER Ohio; Days End Farm Horse Rescue; Equine Encore Foundation; Equine Rescue of Aiken; Florida Thoroughbred Retirement and Adoptive Care Program; Glen Ellen Vocational Academy, Inc. (GEVA); Horse Power Sanctuaries dba Redwings Horse Sanctuary; Humanity for Horses; Kentucky Equine Humane Center; LoneStar Outreach to Place Ex-Racers (LOPE); LongRun Thoroughbred Retirement Society; Lucky Orphans Horse Rescue; Maker’s Mark Secretariat Center; MidAtlantic Horse Rescue Inc.; Mitchell Farm Equine Retirement, Inc.; Neigh Savers Foundation, Inc.; New Stride Thoroughbred Adoption Society; New Vocations Racehorse Adoption Program; Old Friends; ReRun, Inc.; South Florida S.P.C.A.; South Jersey Thoroughbred Rescue; Southern California Thoroughbred Rescue; The Exceller Fund, Inc.; Thoroughbred Placement Resources, Inc.; Thoroughbred Rehab Center; Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation; Thoroughbred Retirement of Tampa, Inc.; TROTT (Training Racehorse Off the Track); United Pegasus Foundation.

POINTS OF INTEREST

• This is the first year South Florida SPCA has applied for, and received, TAA Accreditation
• 26 off-the-track thoroughbreds have been rescued by SFSPCA (January 1, 2013-present)
• SFSPCA has re-homed 22 of its rescued off-the-track thoroughbreds (January 1, 2013-present)
• There are currently five thoroughbreds available for adoption at SFSPCA
• It is estimated that SFSPCA has rescued over 2,000 horses since its founding in 1992
• SFSPCA is one of the five largest, continuously operating horse rescue organizations in the United States

ABOUT SFSPCA

The South Florida Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is an independent nonprofit 501(c)(3) horse and large livestock rescue organization serving Miami-Dade, FL. SFSPCA operates under the guidelines of Florida State Statutes Chapter 828 which defines animal cruelty, abandonment and neglect. It is not part of or supported by a national or governmental agency, nor associated with the A.S.P.C.A. or any other agency or charity. Operating funds come from the donations of money, services and personal efforts of private individuals and companies.

MEDIA CONTACTS:
Kathleen Monahan: 786-351-2632, kathleenm@helpthehorses.org
Stacie Clark Rogers: 859-224-2756, sclark@thoroughbredaftercare.org

MORE PHOTOS AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST.