You know that the Houston SPCA provides care and medical treatment for dogs and cats, but did you know that it rescues all kinds of animals and birds?

Most of the equine and farm animals who come into the care of the Houston SPCA are rescued by animal cruelty investigators due to neglect or abuse and are found to be severely emaciated. In partnership with local law enforcement, they are rescued in the greater Houston area, as well as nine surrounding counties.

The Houston SPCA's Equine and Farm Animal team manages between 40 and 80 horses in need at any given time.

Currently, this includes Adira, who was severely underweight when she was rescued last fall. She was living inside a dilapidated stall filled with mud, with no clean water to drink or fresh food to eat. When animal cruelty investigators arrived at the scene, they were surprised that she was still able to stand on her own, despite being skin and bones.

Equine staff, Animal Cruelty Investigators, and veterinary staff all worked quickly to stabilize Adira and begin a refeeding program.

With each passing day at the Houston SPCA, her body and mind became sounder, and that’s when staff said they knew Adira was going to make it.

“I could still see the fight in her eyes," says Linnea Wood, Equine and Farm Animal Care Manager at Houston SPCA. "She knew she was in a safe place where she was going to get the care she deserved. She had hope.”

Adira’s remarkable transformation is a testament to all the hardworking teams at the animal rescue and protection organization.

The Houston SPCA was established in 1924 with the mission of protecting horses from abuse and neglect. Learn more at www.HoustonSPCA.org, or head here to see how you can help support the Houston SPCA all year long.