By Clare McCarthy
On 95 acres in Ben Wheeler, 40 to 45 neglected horses from around East Texas are nursed back to health and guided through the process of learning to trust humans again. For some, it’s a long road to recovery; for others, an impossible journey. Owners of the ranch, Mike and Allyson DeCanio — a pilot and attorney, respectively — run a nonprofit called The Pegasus Project, making it their mission to give “wings” to as many equines as possible.
Founded in 2009, Pegasus works with law enforcement and animal welfare groups like the SPCA of East Texas to rescue and rehabilitate neglected, abused or abandoned horses, donkeys and mules. Volunteers help rehabilitate and retrain the horses with the goal of adopting them out to carefully chosen homes, while several special-needs horses stay with The Pegasus Project for life.
Allyson notes that Pegasus is a constellation, a horse that lives forever in the sky, and it is also a symbol of good triumphing over evil.
“We picked Pegasus because we think of it as regeneration, a rebirth — and giving these horses wings and allowing them to fly,” she says. Staying with this theme, the charity sells necklaces that have an “angel horse” pendant—a horse with a halo and wings.
Tragic situations abound, of course, and there’s always a new case that tests the nonprofit’s resources. Recently, for instance, the DeCanios got word from Wood County about an abandoned yearling foal (who they later named Phoenix), and although they attempted treatment, the horse died from malnutrition, parasite overload, and the severity of a necrotic wound. Despite that heartbreak, the organization was able to rescue Phoenix’s abandoned and severely malnourished herd — 14 in all — and worked with the court to assess the penalties for the herd’s owner.
Meanwhile, putting out pictures and news of Phoenix’s death caused a few miracles to happen, as Allyson says the nonprofit raised $5,000 for the herd on Facebook, while Pegasus received two grants from the ASPCA and another from the Humane Society for its efforts.
“We put out the plea for help and so many people came forward,” Allyson says. “Every story starts negative with these horses — or they wouldn’t be here now. But we step in and change their lives around.”
Since the rescue, all six of the miniature donkeys in the herd were adopted, two foals were born, and eight horses and a mule are being rehabilitated and readied for adoption.
The DeCanios are limited to taking in new horses when others are adopted out, and it’s often a lengthy process: some are with them for two to four years, or more. In 2016, the nonprofit took in 25 and adopted out 24, with one adoption currently pending. In 2015, the total number of adoptions was 17.
People, as well as horses, benefit from the charity’s efforts.
“We rescued a horse near Christmas one year,” Allyson explains. “A beautiful grey Arabian. We named her Noel. She was adopted by a family with a 10-year-old daughter and a disabled teenage son. The girl rides her for fun and she’s the boy’s therapy horse.”
Funded entirely through donations and the sale of project-related merchandise, the charity depends on the generosity of its supporters and volunteers throughout the year.
Also, the organization receives a fair share of unsolicited donations in December, when people feel inclined to give back to their communities or give honorary donations.
“It’s pretty common that we raise money and get money during the holidays,” Allyson says. “We do “sponsor-a-horse” certificates that people give at Christmas time, so rather than giving a gift, they’ll have a donation made in their name to Pegasus, and we send them a horse sponsorship.”
For more info about this East Texas nonprofit, visit mypegasusproject.org and watch this VIDEO to hear Pegasus director Allyson DeCanio talk about the important work they do.
