February 13th, 2010

02/13, 8:47pm: Windchill’s hanging in there. He’s tried to stand – we consider that progress. He’s decided he really kind of likes all the attention – he calls out whenever he hears a voice in the barn and he love to lay his head in your lap and have you scratch his head as he lays there. He’s gotten picky about how he munches on his grain – some of his spunky little spirit coming through. He shows a bit of flexion in his front legs, for the first time since he’s been here. Maybe that means there’s a chance he could stand? That’s our goal right now. If he gathers the strength to stand there’s hope.

Lots and lots of people have called offering support, prayers, offers of supplies and offering to donate to help cover costs. We never expected the outpouring of caring. I guess when you get tied up in your day to day responsibilities, you forget how great the human beings you pass by every day really can be. You’ve been calling the Douglas County Sheriff’s office, the District Attorney, the Duluth News-Tribune – asking how you can help and asking that there be justice served. Thank you, thank you, thank you for taking the time to care. When Windchill’s front legs work again, he can type a thank you as well.

The very first post, the start of the blog that would start a movement that led to over 100,000 people a day checking the Raindance site day and night. It began with this…(newspaper links may not work, I’m copy each posts directly)

Background on Wind Chill’s story: We don’t know where to start. On Saturday, February 9th we rescued a 9 month old Walkaloosa (Tennessee Walker – Appaloosa cross) at a farm in the area. Frigid conditions (-10F) mixed with high winds (30mph, wind chill of -50F) finally overcame the little guy’s already weakened condition. Suffering from dehydration, malnourishment, hypothermia and frostbite, we loaded the colt we’ve been calling Windchill into one of our horse trailers and raced for home. His story was told in the Duluth News-Tribune:

http://www.duluthnewstribune.com/articles/index.cfm?id=60192

http://www.duluthnewstribune.com/articles/index.cfm?id=60215&section=homepage

I’d just like to say I’m not the hero of this story. The true heroes are this little colt and his absolutely amazing will to live against all the odds now stacked against him. They’re Kathi Davis, who responded to the call for help so quickly. They’re David Stevens who was here without any questions to get him unloaded from the trailer and patiently drying and warming him. They’re Karen & Tom Severson who made us hot meals and relieved us from the cold duty of keeping Wind Chill company. They’re people like Stacy who has stayed entire days with him to keep him company. They’re families like Aaron, Kris and Brooke who are taking shifts to be with him. They’re everybody who have called to ask how they can help and what they can do. They’re the Douglas County Sheriff’s Department – whose Deputies have stopped out several times to see how he’s doing. It’s people like Nina Peterson and Will Aschenbacher and the Duluth News-Tribune, who rushed out to see the colt for herself and tell his story. They’re the people who have been calling the Sheriff, the District Attorney’s office, the newspaper and this farm to ask what they can do and ask that justice be done.

The public hearing for WindChill’s Law, WI Assembly Bill #747 is set:

Criminal Justice Committee
Wednesday, February 24th
10:30 a.m.
Rm. 412E, WI State Capitol in Madison

Everyone who wants to speak will get the chance to do so, and needs to keep it to 3 minutes or less. Nick’s office said you do not have to be a WI resident to speak, and it is best if we do not all repeat the same thing.

WindChill REALLY needs his family to rally on this: whether or not this bill goes any further depends entirely upon the Criminal Justice Committee’s vote, and this hearing is before them. PLEASE help us convince them of the need to change the laws–let Kathi or me know asap if you plan to do so.

If there are enough people going from this area we could consider a van or bus. This is it, family, and we need you all. Questions? Let me or Kathi know!

Kathi’s email: kat@raindancehorses.com

Polly email: pollyknoll@hotmail.com