Misuse Of Funds Prompts Shutdown Of California Horse Rescue

VALLEY CENTER, CA -- A San Diego County nonprofit that rescues horses announced its closure recently following media attention that it was accused of misusing its funds.

Michelle Knuttila, founder and president of HiCaliber Horse Rescue, announced the closure in a lengthy Facebook post written on April 21. The Facebook post also called for donations.

"I am heartbroken to report, we are shutting down," Knuttila wrote. "The resources just aren't there anymore. We are struggling to make ends meet. The obsessive smear campaigns, death threats, hate mail and sabotage have overcome our ability to survive and my right to live peacefully. They won."

"For the horses sake, I hope it's a repairable glitch...but the reality is, this is the new culture of not only rescue, but social media in general," Knuttila continued. "Years ago, when we successfully rescued 34 starved racehorses from a failed rescue...one where the founder upped and left nearly three dozen skeletons behind, not even she was treated at poorly as I have been."

Knuttila and her nonprofit have been at the center of government investigations, according to a series of articles written by inewsource.org.

"The stories detailed ongoing investigations by local and state agencies; statements from former HiCaliber board members who said they knew nothing about the nonprofit’s financials and that records filed with the government were inaccurate; an alleged outbreak of a highly contagious equine disease at the ranch that was kept under wraps; and Knuttila’s questionable expenditures, including thousands of dollars spent on Weight Watchers, spy technology, late-night fast food and bar tabs and other purchases," inewsource.org wrote.

Read the full inewsource.org story here.

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