The HOOFS Fund, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization established in 2007 to raise private dollars to enhance the living and working conditions of police horses in Washington, D.C., and beyond.
We hope you will join us in supporting the health, safety, and well-being of police horses wherever they work. Our mission is to: • Provide support for police horses in the form of funds, materials, labor, and public awareness; • Foster community cooperation and public/private partnerships to support the safety, well-being, health, and training of police horses; • Support the dissemination of research and the sharing of best practices in such areas as veterinarian care, stable management, and training as pertains to police horses; • Provide support, capacity-building, and training opportunities for volunteers who devote their time, expertise, and resources to the care and well-being of police horses.
History: HOOFS and The HOOFS Fund
HOOFS is a broad-based group of more than 50 volunteers working at four U.S. Park Police (USPP) barns in the Washington, D.C., area. The name is an acronym for Helping Out Our Friends in Stalls. While there is a long history of volunteers assisting at the USPP barns, it wasn't until 2004 that they were consolidated under this name and efforts were made to organize and document their contributions.
The volunteers of HOOFS contribute significantly to the care and well-being of the USPP horses. In 2006, they were nominated for a National Park Service award. In November 2008, they were recognized for their contributions with an award from USPP Chief Salvatore Lauro.
The HOOFS Fund represents an exciting new chapter and natural evolution in the volunteer effort that started with HOOFS. Recognizing the need for greater public awareness and support for the police horses, several HOOFS volunteers established The HOOFS Fund in 2007 as a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization with the purpose of raising private dollars to support the health, safety, and well-being of police horses in the USPP and beyond.
As an independent nonprofit organization based in Washington, D.C., the HOOFS Fund is positoned to help horses working in law enforcement agencies across the country. We invite all who value the contributions of police horses to join us in this effort.
Board of Directors
HOOFS Fund Board members--past and present--pose with Stonewall, a U.S. Park Police horse. (photo: The HOOFS Fund)
