Website Helps Animal Lovers Save Animals They've Never Even Met

LITTLETON, Colo. (CBS4) - A Colorado woman was troubled by the animals being mistreated or struggling to survive, so she came up with a way to help, and it's taking over the Internet and saving animals around the world.

Curly and Moe are horses that had just days to live.

"They go to Mexico, slaughter plants there, and the meat is harvested and shipped to foreign countries," Jodi Messenich with Zuma's Rescue Ranch said.

The two were on their way to slaughter, but at the last minute were saved by animal lovers who had never met them, but heard their story.

"We are growing so fast, we're getting so many great projects on the website, and some of them get funded so quickly," said Sara Timms.

Their story was on LoveAnimals.org, a website Timms started to save threatened or injured animals.

Cupcake is a Colorado dog that was nearly dead when he was found. The dog was in such bad shape that veterinarians weren't initially sure if she could be saved. But LoveAnimals.org managed to raise plenty of money from strangers who desperately wanted to help her.

"I feel lucky. I fell in love with her as soon as I saw her picture," said Kent Roberts.

Roberts not only fell in love with her online, he and his wife adopted her when she recovered. They changed her name from Cupcake to Addie.

"You wouldn't know today, you really can't tell today," Roberts said.

LoveAnimals.org has also raised money for chimps used for medical research.

"We've raised $60,000 for those chimps to help give them the retirement that they deserve," Timms said.

Animal lovers donate on the website. The money goes directly to nonprofits and veterinarians who care for the animals.

The ponies' fundraiser is still going strong as they enjoy their new lives at Zuma's Rescue Ranch.

Those who help create the campaigns or donate to existing ones can't wait to hear how their money saves all kinds of animals.

"I just hope for them to end up somewhere that they are appreciated," donor Elisabeth Mankamyer said.

Curly and Moe are getting healthy enough to be adopted into a family now thanks to people donating to save animals they've met only online. It's an Internet love affair that works to help animals live happily ever after.

LINK:  LoveAnimals.org