They take in malnourished horses that are near death and bring them back to life. They're called DreamCatchers Equine Rescue . It's an organization that's finding themselves taking in more horses than ever.

The rescued horses live on an 850-acre ranch just south of Colorado Springs.

Founder and president of DreamCatchers Equine Rescue Julie Demuesy believes the sharp increase is because of the struggling economy, expensive hay and because horses are living longer these days.

DreamCatchers has been operating for more than seven years. During that time they've only ever had about 40 horses at a time. Now they've got 134 horses.

They take in skinny and sick horses where DreamCatchers volunteers fatten them up and make them whole again.

"Some of them are very scared and they've been abused and they just need a little reassurance that no one is going to hurt them anymore," said Crystal Permenter.

During one rescue in Park County the DreamCatchers seized 32 weak horses from a home that was neglecting them. One didn't make it. "It was a 4-month-old foal that was malnourished when he got to us and he was injured by a dog and had severe infection and he just couldn't make it," said Demuesy.

Some owners willingly give up their horses. "Horses that are all scoring between a one and a two on the condition scale which is almost dead," said Demuesy.

DreamCatchers volunteers spend hours upon hours helping put the sparkle back into hallow eyes. "When one horse first came in she was dead in her eyes" said Permenter.

Whatever reason they end up getting rescued the end result is always the same. The horses get nursed back to health and are adopted out to loving homes.

It already costs thousands of dollars to take care of a horse, but with all the horses DreamCatchers has been rescuing they're dishing out about $11,000 a month for food and medicine on the horses. Most of that money comes straight out of Demuesy's pocket.

If you are interested in donating or volunteering, click on the link below.