Even as a young girl, all Lynne Petitti ever dreamt of was living with a horse of her own.
"My mom was a single mom trying to take care of her two daughters. She had to work full time," said Petitti.
Although there was no money for a horse, Petitti's mother had a family friend with a farm where she could go and "live with the horses."
Petitti is still living her dream decades later with the Circle P Sanctuary in Morrow County. Petitti now has dozens of special horses to love, ONN's Mike Kallmeyer reported.
"I've not turned one away yet, (even) if it was a desperate case and it had no other options, because I just can't," Petitti said.
There are thousands and thousands of horses across Ohio. Most of them are cared and loved for just like any family pet.
Unfortunately some are unwanted and neglected, Kallmeyer reported.
Petitti has dedicated her life to saving unwanted horses that are left starving, diseased and forgotten.
"It's neglect if they don't know any better. It's abuse if they know," Petitti said.
There are many cases and Petitti can't always save the animals.
"We lost one horse because he was just too far gone," Petitti said. "He had jelly in his bones."
But Petitti has saved many horses. Some of them were days, if not hours, from death.
One such former family pet was Katie, who even won ribbons in contests. When the kids outgrew her, the family "put her out to pasture."
When Petitti found her, she had no teeth to graze. Now, she's on special food and doing well.
Unfortunately, other horses found across the state are not doing as well, reported Kallmeyer.
"They just don't have enough space for all the horses that are unwanted," said Petitti.
Dr. Leah Dorman of the Ohio Farm Bureau said that money is a problem. It costs $2,500 a year to care for a horse and more if they have special needs.
Dorman would rather see a horse respectfully lose its life "than to unnecessarily starve to death."
"Is there anything wrong with a horse processing facility? The answer is no. Unfortunately, we do not have horse processing facilities in the U.S. at this point," said Petitti.
The plants were banned in 2007, but that made the problem worse. Horses are now trucked to Canada or Mexico for slaughter.
They are first put up for auction.
"You have three seconds to bid on that horse and save its life. That's it," Petitti said.
Dorman counts on people like Petitti to save horses in need.
Petitti agreed that horses should be allowed to die humanely at home, and in the meantime, she'll save all that she can.
Her newest arrival is Hannah.
"She looks skinny now, but she was emaciated a month ago," Petitti said.
Hannah showed up skin and bones, but has already gained 90 pounds. In fact, she will roll and play which is a sign that she's now healthy and happy.
It is much like Petitti in her life.
"I got to go live with the horses," Petitti said.
Petitti and her husband, Phillip, fund the rescue of the horses on their own with about half the money coming from donations.
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