'Kicked in the gut'

Photo: Contributed

This sign was stolen from Spirit Horse Rescue on Trinity Valley Road near Lumby.

Vonda Graham-Fischer felt like she had been kicked in the gut.

Graham-Fischer operates Spirit Horse Rescue on Trinity Valley Road near Lumby, and Friday morning she noticed someone had stolen a handmade sign that was made, and given to her, by a close friend.

“We rescue horses out of kill pens and slaughter barns. We rehabilitate them and then we find them suitable homes,” said Graham-Fischer. “We really depend on public assistance for buying hay and medical treatment because we are not given any funding. This all comes out of our own pocket.”

Graham-Fischer recently injured herself at work and is getting by on a reduced income.

“So this is the last thing we needed. I felt like I had been kicked in the gut,” said Graham-Fischer, adding the sign is important to the rescue because it lets the public know where they are.

Often tourists will see the sign and stop by to see the horses and sometimes they contribute to the animal's care.

“The donations are very appreciated, but without our sign, nobody knows who we are,” said Graham-Fischer. “We can't afford to buy new signs. We are very busy with the horses. We have 16 horses right now.”

Two signs were stolen from their driveway overnight.

While one sign simply had their phone number and name on it, Graham-Fischer said the other side had tremendous sentimental value.

“One sign was a gift made by a very dear friend of mine and it is irreplaceable. It was handmade,” said Graham-Fischer, adding it is frustrating and very hurtful that someone would steal the sign.

“It is something that means nothing to them but everything to us,” she said.

Graham-Fischer is going to check with her neighbour who has a security camera pointed in the direction of her driveway and she will pass any images on to the RCMP.

Anyone with information on the theft is urged to contact police.