This weekend is “PetSmart Charities® National Adoption Weekend,” and the resident rescue group at the RSM PetSmart—Modjeska Ranch Rescue—will be having an adoption day at the store on Sunday, Feb. 13, from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. It has  promised to be there with three adorable Westie/Poodle mix puppies and a 5-month-old Yorkie mix—along with lots of kitties.

Modjeska Ranch Rescue has become one of the most recognizable local nonprofit animal rescue groups in the RSM area since its founding by Russell and Teresa Taylor in 2001.

As many rescues do, MRR takes in animals from throughout Southern California—not just Orange County. It is different from most though in that it is also able to provide a sanctuary for “unadoptable” animals— those that are difficult or impossible to place based on their age, health issues or behavioral problems.

While you can see some of their adoptable cats at PetSmart daily and their adoptable dogs many weekends—including this Sunday—MRR is one of the few nonprofit rescue groups in the area to take in other types of animals for adoption or as sanctuary pets. Those animals are networked using flyers, its website, Facebook and Twitter.

The Taylors' home—on four acres in the canyon—allows them to have horses, goats, and other large animals you won’t find in RSM proper—in addition to the dogs and cats that come into their rescue.

Since these animals can’t be brought to a PetSmart adoption event, I thought I’d highlight a few of them for you. Please take a look at their pictures and tell your friends about them. According to Modjeska Ranch Rescue’s adoption coordinator Alicia Parker, all of these animals came into the shelters as strays and were scheduled to be euthanized when rescued from shelters.

The first two are Nina and Gracie—horses rescued from the Devore animal shelter in September 2010. Parker said they can be adopted together or separately. Both are barefoot, current on vaccines and halter broke, leads and ties.

Nina is 2-1/2 years old. She’s a smaller—very sweet—black crossbreed mare that “doesn't appear to have been handled much before coming to the rescue," Parker said. She describes Nina as having “a healthy curiosity and a good sense about her,” adding “we are going slow with her but she's been incredibly responsive, loves affection and enjoys being groomed. She will go far with someone who can give her the time and training she deserves.”

Nina is available to an experienced home or trainer only, but will likely be suitable for all riding levels with the proper training.

Gracie is a healthy, sound, calm and graceful 4-year-old Appaloosa mare that is blind in her right eye, although Parker says that “doesn't stop her from doing anything any other horse can do. Gracie can be a handful when asked to do something she's not comfortable with.” Parker feels that she “just needs some training to be that perfect horse she's destined to be.”

Gracie is available for adoption to an experienced home or an intermediate home that will be working with a trainer.

The next two are a fairly young pair of male and female donkeys that could possibly be mother and son—Mandy and Dandy. Parker stated “they must stay together. They are very bonded.”

Parker describes them as “easy keepers,” noting “they get along well with goats and horses. Mandy is very affectionate and loves attention, while Dandy is a bit shy but will follow you when he gets to know you.”

When they arrived at MRR, Mandy and Dandy were in horrible shape, extremely overweight and their hooves were deformed from lack of care.  They've lost a lot of weight and the farrier has transformed their hooves so they are normal again, making the pair ready to be someone's pets.

They are available to a home that can provide them with a low calorie diet (grass hay) and regular hoof care. In placing the donkeys, MRR wants to ensure that they get good care and don't end up back in the condition they were in when they arrived.

For more information on the horses or donkeys, contact Alicia Parker at mrrhorses@hotmail.com.