As folks struggle during these financially tight times, it’s easy to forget that animals in rescues also feel the pinch, many of them in our own backyard. For instance, the Lompoc wild horse sanctuary Return to Freedom (RTF) needs help to defray costs. “We are facing some of the toughest economic challenges we have ever faced,” RTF’s Jill Anderson wrote in a recent email. “Donations are down and expenses are up. Our horses need to eat, the vehicles need to run, and we need to continue to educate the public about the plight of America’s wild horse herds … . Last week we spent over $17,000 on a hay delivery that will not last a month.” To donate, send a check or money order payable to Return to Freedom, P.O. Box 926, Lompoc, CA 93438; or contribute online at returntofreedom.org/support (click the Donate Now button). For more info, call (805) 737-9246 or visit returntofreedom.org.