Darlene Kindle, creator of CERA, told The Dodo, “She simply walks up with a wagging tail and sniffs and kisses them like a long-lost friend.” Sammie, an emaciated silver dapple miniature horse, came to the rescue earlier this month, and the 3-year-old dog knew he needed her aid right away.

When an animal control officer found Sammie walking the streets of South Carolina in July, he was barely alive. If the neglected little horse was going to make it through the following several days, animal control realized he needed special attention. The horse was found to be 100 pounds underweight, with painful teeth problems and a possible birth defect causing hind limb troubles during an examination at a nearby veterinarian clinic. The time and money required to bring the horse back to health were significant, and the vet recommended that Sammie be killed if animal control could not find him a home.

The shelter contacted Kindle in the hopes of finding the horse a home, and she contacted a veterinarian to investigate what treatment options were available for Sammie. “I asked him a lot of questions, and my final one was, ‘Does he have the will to live in his eyes?’” says the author. Kindle remarked. “The vet said OK right away, and I replied, ‘OK, I’ll take him.’ I’ll assist him in fighting the war if he’s ready to do so.’ When Sammie arrived at the rescue, he demonstrated to Kindle his eagerness to improve. Kindle stated, “He instantly lowered his head to the ground and started eating grass.”

Molly was there to greet the visitor, as she always was, but Sammie was too busy with his food to give her full attention. Molly made a follow-up visit to Sammie’s new pen after their brief meeting that day. “It was later that evening, after Sammie had gone to bed — I don’t get much sleep at night, so I was out here in the rocking seat.