DreamCatchers
Equine Rescue Inc.

We would like to extend a special Thank You to the thousands of people who have watched Vinny's video, and shared his story with others. It is our deepest and most heartfelt wish that Vinny and his struggles are not forgotten and that his death has meaning in helping  others like him still in need.

Memorial Video 

 Vinny, named after the artist Vincent Van Gogh, came to us on January 9th, 2008 in extremely emaciated condition. Only 4 months old, he had suffered severe malnutrition and the loss of his left ear as well as lacerations to both hind legs from an attack by the previous owners large dog. Vinny did not survive his ordeal, passing quietly in his sleep early in the morning on April 5th, 2008 at only 7 months old. You can read about his story, progress, and last day below.

This page is dedicated to Vinny and his story in hopes that other foals can be saved.  We have established a fund for foals in need in Vinny's honor, to help prevent other foals from suffering his fate.

 If you would like to donate to VINNY'S FUND to help other foals in need, please click on the DONATE button below.

Donations made payable to Vinny's Fund can also be mailed to:

DreamCatchers Equine Rescue

C/O Vinny's Fund

PO Box 55

Elizabeth, CO 80107

Vinny's Story

From the day Vinny came to us, this little guy touched every heart that met him or heard his story, and in his short lifetime, he pulled an entire country together.  During the 3 months Vinny was with us, our mailbox, email, and voicemail was full of messages, notes, gifts, and best wishes from people coast to coast and even over seas.

Vinny will forever be the heart and soul of DreamCatchers.....and we will miss him always.

Such a brave little guy, Vinny was so willing to trust, even after being attacked by a dog much larger and stronger than he was. But Julie's dog Beau fell in love with Vinny from the first....aslmost as if knowing Vinny was special and needed him. Beau became Vinny's constant companion, watching over him.

Because of Vinny's severly emaciated condition, Julie tried bottle feeding him Foalac to give him the extra nutrition he needed without overloading his system. His stall was also full of hay, although he could eat very little at a time. But Vinny was so overwhelmed by the abundance of hay, he would even try to eat laying down, as if he was afraid it would be gone when he woke up.

Over the first month, Vinny improved tremendously! We were so encouraged by his progress! With penicillin injections and topical antibiotics, the infection in the wounds on his legs dissapeared and they were healing nicely. Although we continued to battle the deep-seated infection in his ear canal, the wound itself was healing and closing up. Vinny had also started eating small amounts of grain, which he absolutely LOVED, and had already grown a few inches! Although he still had to be helped to his feet, he was getting stronger every day and would follow Julie all around the barn. When she came in, he would walk right over to his stall door, nickering at her because he knew Mom was there and whenever Mom was there, it meant he got to come out and explore and play!

As Julie would work around the barn, Vinny was her constant companion, supervising and even helping occassionally by sticking his nose in to every bucket, bin, and bag to make sure it was safe for her. His specialty was finding all the loose hay and hidden bales, and then testing it to be sure it was ok for the other horses to eat! His favorite places where either just inside the big barn doors, where all the goodies were kept, or just outside where he could lay in the sun and nap.  

As Vinny grew stronger, Julie would take him on daily "walk-abouts" to exercise his legs and rebuild muscle tone. Each day they would wander around, checking out the other horses over the fence, or just go on short walks then hang out in a nice spot for a while, just spending time together.

As much as Vinny loved his walk-abouts with Julie, some days he just wanted to be obstinate too, which for him, was a wonderful thing to see!

When Flagg, the yearling filly that lived with him inside at their previous residence, came to DreamCatchers after her release from the Veterinary Hospital, they would often go on group walk-abouts, with plenty of volunteers wanting to join them, just to spend time with Vinny and his best friend, Flagg!

Vinny and Flagg were both housed in the previous owners livingroom. Upon being rescued, Flagg, her feces and urine full of blood, was taken immediately to the local animal hospital for emergency treatment for an out-of-control bladder infection. Vinny was so glad to see her once she was released 9 days later, they spent every minute together and Flagg watched out for Vinny as any mother would her own offspring.

 As Vinny's ear healed he was finally able to wear a halter for the first time. He looked so good in his teal colored halter, and lead line. Just like a big horse! Our little guy was growing up! By the first of March, Vinny had grown over 3 inches, and although still painfully thin, he had begun to gain weight with the dissipating infection, and for the first time simce coming to us, he actually had muscle tone to his legs, shoulders, and rump! We were so excited....Spring was coming and we all just knew that before the summer was over, we would finally get to see this incredibly sweet and special boy bouncing through the pasture like a healthy colt should.

But then in mid-March, Vinny took a turn for the worse. He had developed an abcess in hind foot, which made it very painful for him to stand. Because he would lay down so much, he also developed a separated rectum, which had to be sutured in place to allow him to pass stool and not colic. Our ferrier trimmed the foot to alleviate the pressure on the outer wall, which enabled Vinny to stand for short periods relatively pain-free once he was up but he had to be helped to his feet every hour to eat and drink as he could not get up on his own. After 2 weeks of round the clock care, Vinny began showing improvement. He was able to walk around again and would follow Julie for short distances, which our ferrier thought would be good for the blood flow to the foot.  

 Spring came quickly to the ranch and Vinny got his very first taste of fresh spring grass the day before he left us. Born in September in a mountain community, snow was already on the ground when Vinny was born, so he had never experienced spring. That day he even went in to the pasture with some of the other horses that he knew, and that had been rescued with him, with Flagg close by keeping everyone at a safe distance from her little Vinny. With Julie on one side, and Flagg on the other, Vinny got to see all of his old friends, and be out in the pasture with the "big kids", then got his very first taste of the spring grasses growing along the side of the house. It was about as close to a perfect day as Vinny had ever had.

Early the next morning, Vinny passed queitly in his sleep. He was laid to rest beside the house wrapped in his red sarape, and with the red teddy bear that was given to him for company. All of DreamCatchers, human and equine alike, deeply mourned the passing of Vinny. He was simply too young to have suffered such extreme malnutrition and his little body was not able to recover. But in his young life, Vinny was loved! If love alone could have saved him, he would be with us today but for now, we have to be content in knowing that we will see our precious little Vinny again someday....when we meet him over the Rainbow Bridge.

You can read Julie's account of their last day together below.

Rest in Peace sweet Vinny.....we miss you.

September 2007-April 5th, 2008

Vinny's last day as told by Julie.

It is with the heaviest of hearts that I try to put words to the way I am feeling right now.

We lost our little Vinny this morning.  This brave little soul who fought so courageously through many adversities passed in his sleep.  He was peacefully laying upon his bed of hay when Lisa Jo and Josh went to get him up for morning feeding.

Vinny and I had a most amazing day yesterday.  As was his new habit, when I entered the barn and called his name, he would nicker and whinny his welcome me and immedately head to his stall door, cause when "mom" is there, it means walk about and the search for grain and other fun things. Lots of rubbing and scratching, grooming was one of is favorite things.

We spent most of the afternoon together, laying in the sun, munching on hay and a little bit of Junior and just enjoying life. Visiting his friends in the big horse pasture where Flagg and the others were getting their daily exercise. Vinny got to check them all out and say hello and they all checked him out...it always amazes me to see how gentle and curious they are about him.  Flagg was very protective, putting herself between Vinny and any others who approached, if they got too pushy or rough.  She was his protector through it all.

I convinced Vinny that if we walked a bit farther today, he would find something really neat...green grass.  He had to stop a few times but we eventually made our way to the yard by the house and he got to sample some of the new grass, not too much but a taste.  I told him that he had made it to Springtime and it would be smooth sailing from here on out.  He would be able to get strong during the warm summer months.

He is prancing now, I just know it and I will see him again someday.

Love you Vinny, it's ok now, you're ok now.

I will add more to this when I can organize my thoughts better.  My heart is broken right now, but I don't want ANYONE to EVER forget my Little Vinny.