LISBON — K-Stone Rescue owner Karla Trimm has been saving animals from starvation, abuse and the slaughterhouse for the last 14 years on her ranch on Keystone Road.
Her rescue services provide a second chance at life for animals through emergency rescue, medical attention, rehabilitation, and adoption facilitation.
“I also buy rescue horses that can be rehabilitated. Then I try to re-home them,” said Trimm.
Hazel, an Appaloosa, is one of the latest rescues. The abandoned horse was brought from Hogansburg to her Lisbon farm during a deep freeze this January.
“The horse was nothing but ribs. She weighed only 754 pounds,” said Trimm.
Six months later, Hazel has put on 125 pounds and is now pushing 900 pounds. She may eventually reach over one thousand pounds.
“Last week was the first time Hazel laid in the sand and rolled. That was a stepping stone. She is still thin. She is a love bucket,” said Trimm.
She is hoping to use Hazel in the K-Stone Rescue Ranch mobile petting zoo that can be seen at many local festivals, give horse rides, or be used for trail riding.
She bought a mare she named Freedom just three hours before she was to go to the slaughterhouse. A month ago Freedom was resold to the Doerr family, of Canton, for their 12 year old daughter. The girl was so excited to have the horse, said Trimm.
The first two rescue animals that came to the shelter in 2012 are still there – a mini-horse named Heidi and a donkey named Dak.
The K-Stone Rescue Ranch mobile petting zoo offers pony/horse rides, a fundraiser for the animal shelter.
The petting zoo is going to Morley August 29 for the Children’s Day at the Methodist Church.
Birthday parties and holiday events are held at the Lisbon ranch and can be booked on the K-Stone Ranch Facebook page.
Among the volunteers at the ranch is Rylea Kelly, of Lisbon, who is majoring in equine science and management at SUNY Morrisville.
Volunteer Connie DuPre, of Ogdensburg, said, “I can’t say enough nice things about Karla. She is so kind to all the animals.”
Not all of the animals at the farm are rescue animals. The ranch also has Appaloosas and quarter horses trained to compete in horse shows. Maggie, a potbellied pig, also lives at the ranch.
More Appaloosas and a llama to replace the one who died recently are being sought for the ranch.
Trimm started animal rescue shortly before retiring as a corrections lieutenant at Bare Hill, Malone, and as a Norfolk Police officer. But she has not fully retired. She now owns K-Stone Tax Service and somehow finds time to prepare taxes in addition to her farm work.
“This is what I chose to do in retirement. I built an indoor arena three years ago,” said Trimm, Up until then the ranch had only an outdoor arena.
“I could retire and sell this place, but not tomorrow,” she said.
“I’ll probably die on a horse,” laughed Trimm.
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