To say Lacey was in rough shape when she was rescued from a Surrey property five years ago would be an understatement.

The blue-eyed palomino paint yearling was gaunt, with skinny limbs, overgrown hooves and a fear of everything, even a blanket.

Fortunately, to say she害羞草研究所檚 doing alright these days is also an understatement.

害羞草研究所淪he looks amazing now, it害羞草研究所檚 hard to believe that it害羞草研究所檚 the same pony,害羞草研究所� said Lacey害羞草研究所檚 害羞草研究所榤om,害羞草研究所� Kathy Gilleran.

害羞草研究所淪he害羞草研究所檚 the most loving and affectionate and trusting pony you could imagine. That害羞草研究所檚 kind of what blew my mind with her.害羞草研究所�

Lacey was among nearly five dozen animals that were seized by the SPCA during a cruelty investigation in August of 2015.

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Unfortunately, the seizure was not the first that the BC SPCA has dealt with involving horses, nor was it the last. Most recently, 27 horses were among nearly 100 animals seized by cruelty-investigation officers in late September from a farm near Princeton.

In each case, extensive 害羞草研究所� and expensive 害羞草研究所� efforts are taken to treat, rehabilitate and rehome all of them.

And while for some, the story does not have a happy ending despite best efforts, many others, matched with the love and attention every creature deserves, go on to thrive.

It is these stories of hope, perseverance and survival that inspired Kamloops photographer Leanne Peniuk to do what she could to help.

Peniuk began a quest last spring to capture the 害羞草研究所渉appily-ever-after stories害羞草研究所� for a book that would be sold to raise funds for the BC SPCA害羞草研究所檚 equine division.

害羞草研究所淓very horse is given a second chance and I just kind of wanted to showcase that and tell their stories,害羞草研究所� Peniuk said.

Rescue Me 害羞草研究所� published in November 害羞草研究所� is a coffee-table-style book that shares the stories of 25 horses, including Lacey, that have been rescued by the BC SPCA and successfully rehomed.

The goal, said Peniuk, is threefold, including inspiring people to consider adopting or fostering a rescue horse.

害羞草研究所淎nd if one person drives by a field and sees horses that maybe don害羞草研究所檛 have water, food or shelter, or maybe don害羞草研究所檛 look the best 害羞草研究所� they take action and place a phone call to the SPCA, then it serves its purpose.害羞草研究所�

Every year, the BC SPCA seizes between 50 and 100 horses from unhealthy situations, and in her five years as manager of the BC SPCA害羞草研究所檚 equine division, Leiki Salumets has seen it all.

Salumets remembers that Lacey was a recent arrival when she started at the society害羞草研究所檚 Good Shepherd barn in Surrey that August.

Knowing how far Lacey has come offsets the heartache side of the job, she said.

Salumets害羞草研究所� personal experience with a rescue horse is also shared in Rescue Me. That horse, she said, 害羞草研究所渢aught me kind of the most.害羞草研究所�

害羞草研究所淪he害羞草研究所檚 a big part of the reason I do what I do.害羞草研究所�

Proceeds from the sale of Rescue Me are earmarked to support the care and rehabilitation of the Princeton rescues.

Typically, the BC SPCA relies 害羞草研究所渉eavily害羞草研究所� on donor support to provide the care such animals need, said Salumets, describing the effort behind Rescue Me as 害羞草研究所渏ust incredible.害羞草研究所�

Publisher Jill Veitch 害羞草研究所� who grew up in South Surrey but now calls Kelowna home 害羞草研究所� described it as 害羞草研究所渉eartwarming.害羞草研究所�

Veitch said she learned of Peniuk害羞草研究所檚 quest through social media, and 害羞草研究所渋nstantly害羞草研究所� messaged Peniuk, 害羞草研究所渂ecause I have (a rescue horse) and it害羞草研究所檚 been an absolute life-changer for my family.害羞草研究所�

害羞草研究所�

The foreword in Rescue Me is written by self-described rescuer, horseman and philosopher Kevan Garecki.

The book also include insights from Salumets and a prominent foster caregiver, as well as some information on the process that surrounds an SPCA seizure.

Peniuk said even though the book is finished, there is another chapter yet to come.

害羞草研究所淣ext year, I want to work害羞草研究所� on horses saving humans,害羞草研究所� she said.

For more information or to order Rescue Me ($55) visit www.leannepeniukphotography.ca/rescue-me