Recipient of the ASPCA Equine Welfare Award
Named 'Favorite Charity' in prestigious Equestrian Living Magazine's 2024 Gold List
FLEET of ANGELS
We help horses and the people who love them.
Emergency Grant Programs | Natural Disaster Relief | Bonded for Life Program
Emergency Transportation Assistance | Emergency Event Management
An international nonprofit service organization
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
HOW DOES FLEET OF ANGELS WORK?
Our free Directory of Angels serves as an online staging area where people with trailers (Tranport Angels) can be contacted by rescuers of at-risk equines when transportation challenges arise. Most transport missions are for short distances, but in some cases members may coordinate cross-country trips that cover longer distances. Participating private and commercial transport angels charge fees that range from free, to cost of fuel, to a negotiated discount rate that is below typical retail transport rates.
FOA members are also on call to assist in emergency equine evacuations. We are always ready to rally our network of angels to move endangered equines away from nature-related emergencies like fires, droughts, hurricanes, tornados, floods, and earthquakes. Our participants- whether rescuers, transporters, layover hosts, or facilitators, are all literally "angels on stand-by", eager to help save the lives of at-risk equines.
HOW DO I BECOME A 'TRANSPORT ANGEL'?
If you are willing to occasionally assist with the transporting of an at-risk equine in your area - even for just a short distance, please register here. Your information will be added to our comprehensive data base and interactive map of people all over North America who are willing to do their parts to get as many at-risk equines into safe homes throughout the US and Canada as possible.
As a Transport Angel, you may be asked to haul an equine to its new home nearby, or you may be asked to haul it for a portion of a longer mission, with another Angel completing the trip. You determine what you can do on a case-by-case basis. You will always be able to turn down a mission if you can't help at that time. (Financial arrangements should always be discussed and determined in advance and in writing between transporter and equine owner.)
CAN I STILL HELP IF I DON'T HAVE A TRAILER?
If you don't have a truck and trailer, there are many other ways for you to help! Please see the other options for participation on the registration form. We'd love to have you with us!
WHAT DOES IT COST TO GET HELP FINDING LOW COST TRANSPORT THROUGH FLEET OF ANGELS?
FOA doesn't charge you anything to use our Directory and Map of Angels to seek help for an at-risk horse. Your only cost will be the price that is negotiated between you and the transport angel who helps you haul your at-risk horse, mule, or burro/donkey.
Donations from others is what made helping you possible. We appreciate a small donation if we help you, so that we can continue our mission of helping others find the help they need, as well.
IS FLEET OF ANGELS A FOR-PROFIT BUSINESS?
Fleet of Angels is not a for-profit business. FOA's mission is to get horses who are in trouble into safe homes and secure situations. The purpose of our program is to make it affordable to transport a horse that caring rescuers will provide a safe home for after we help them find a reasonably priced transporter.
One of the requirements for our Angel transporters is that if they charge for transporting a horse, they provide that service at a cost that is considerably less than retail rates would be. Costs and fees for fuel, stalling, etc. are negotiated privately between those who need help and those who offer help. We receive absolutely no commission or 'kick back' whatsoever from our transport angels who charge for their service. If you find transportation for your at-risk equine through Fleet of Angels, we appreciate a small donation to FOA to help keep us going. We rely on your support through donations to continue providing this service.
HOW DO FOA's TRANSPORTERS CHARGE? IS THERE A STANDARD FEE?
SHORT DISTANCE TRANSPORTS (Under 100 miles each way):
The Angels who help you will usually either help you for free or they'll charge you a reasonable fee to cover their costs, and sometimes some of their time.
MID RANGE TRANSPORTS (Between 100 miles and 250 miles):
Although private trailer owners sometimes are available for trips of this length, these trips are frequently managed by our 'semi-pro' transporters. Typically working within a particular region of the country, these transporters can often offer low rates and timely service. These transporters usually are hauling for several owners at once, so costs are divided between owners.
LONG DISTANCE TRANSPORTS (Over 250 miles each way):
In most cases trips that are over 250 miles are handled by our professional /commercial transpoters. Their rates for Fleet of Angels missions are below their retail rates, sometimes are just enough to cover fuel costs, and on occasion are even less than that. You should not expect a professional transporter to haul a horse for a long distance for free- even if it's for a good cause.
Anyone contacting one of our transport angels should ALWAYS remember to mention that you're contacting them through Fleet of Angels, so they'll know to give you their best rate.
WHAT IS THE CHARGE FOR FOA MEMBERS TO HELP EVACUATE HORSES DURING A DISASTER SUCH AS HURRICANE, TORNADO, FLOOD, OR FIRE?
Most of our members assist in evacuation situations for no charge; however, assistance with fuel costs, etc. is always appreciated.
DOES FLEET OF ANGELS COVER TRANSPORTATION COSTS FOR PEOPLE WHO RESCUE AT-RISK EQUINES?
No. People who rescue at-risk equines should be prepared to at least cover the cost of fuel for whomever provides transportation for that equine, unless the distance to be traveled is very short. Our transporters generously give up their time and usually all or most profit to help transport at-risk equines for FOA, but few are in a position to cover the out of pocket costs of transporting. On rare occasions, FOA assists with transportation costs by fundraising for a special mission (like our very successful campaign to find homes and transportation for over 200 BLM sale authority burros that were targeted by BLM to be exported to Guatemala)- but at least for now, FOA is unable to help pay for the on-going transport angels' efforts to help at-risk equines.
HOW DO I GET THE BEST RATE POSSIBLE FROM A TRANSPORT ANGEL?
It is very important to let the transporter know that you found them through Fleet of Angels, and ask them for their lowest possible rescue rate. Also, remember that one way transporters are able to offer low rates to rescuers is by fitting those animals in with those being transported at full price. As a rescuer, you need to be prepared to work with transporters on a 'stand by' basis, understanding that their full price customers dictate their routes and schedules, and that the time frame often changes. Being patient with the transporter who's helping you is very important.
WHAT IF I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH A SHIPPER , OR I THINK I'M BEING OVERCHARGED?
Any concerns about shippers or their rates should be reported to: Director@FleetOfAngels.org.
DOES FLEET OF ANGELS ACCEPT DONATIONS?
Yes. Fleet of Angels is a registered non-profit tax-exempt organization. EIN #46-3895690. We depend on donations and grants from the individuals, organizations, and foundations to provide the funding required for our work to continue.
HOW ARE FUNDS DONATED FOR FLEET OF ANGELS USED?
Unless earmarked for a particular purpose, donations made to FOA are used for our ongoing costs of providing a comprehensive database of multiple types of service providers, our interactive registry and two directories, web site management and maintenance, and other administrative costs. It is those offerings that result in the successful transporting of thousands of at-risk equines a year. We also provide emergency feed, medical supplies, and other needed items for equine victims during our leading work in natural disaster relief. The costs of managing the many life-saving missions that we accept leadership roles in each year vary greatly, and the reality is that we're never able to do all we'd like to for at-risk equines because of having a limited budget. As the many services provided by Fleet of Angels continue to expand, our costs also increase, making support from donors the most critical component of our work.