Sometime after 4 p.m., you gave Joshua Rockwood the money he needs to get his horses back and, I believe, to pave the way for a significant victory for animals, for farmers, for animal lovers, for lovers of truth, courage and justice. Joshua raised more than $12,000 in two days, almost exactly what he needs – with gofundme fees and other costs – to get his three impounded horses returned to his farm. They should never have been taken.

He has the money he has asked for, I know he will not ask for more. But I will say he can use every dollar that he gets for good purpose. Justice in America comes at a very high price, and Joshua’s business has been severely damaged. You can contribute here.

But you all did it, and he is grateful. I believe this will also pave the way for Joshua to close this awful chapter in his life and move past this trying year. I think next week will bring good news for him, and for all of the people who believe in him and his cause.

I was standing in Joshua’s pasture with his cows when Pamela Rickenbach of Blue Star Equiculture, the horse rescue farm and sanctuary in Palmer, Mass., called me to say that my friend Paul Moshimer had taken his own life last Spring. I will not forget the scene: Joshua walking one of his beef cows up the hill, me standing crying and not able to believe what I was hearing.

One of Paul’s last promises before he died was to bring the Blue Star trailer to New York at no cost to Joshua and bring his horses back when it was time. Today Pamela made that offer again to Joshua, on Blue Star’s behalf, and Joshua accepted.

Joshua said he would be honored. I sure hope to be there, this is a new social awakening, a new and loving way to think of animals and protect their true rights, a community of like-minded and good people coming together in a good cause. These are the best kind of people, it will be such a pleasure to see them come together in this way.

I got the news today via text from Joshua while I was walking in the deep woods with Maria and the dogs. “We did it,” he texted. “Thank you.” Thank you, Joshua, for standing strong and being true, and thanks to all of you good people who stood with him all through these ten months. People are good, given the chance.

It is not quite over, I should say, but the end is very much in sight.

I made a note on my walk to be empathetic and compassionate, even to the people who have been so callous and cruel. I have done plenty of arguing and bashing towards the people who did this, but I don’t believe there was any grand conspiracy, I think the police and government officials were caught in the middle of a widening schism between people who have animals and people who have pets. This is new and complex territory, I hope to never become what I hate. I hope to never mirror the cruelty I have seen. We can do better.

I am sure the animal rights people believe they are doing the Lord’s work. I hope they learn and change. I hope everyone involved will be able to learn from this. I have.

Joshua has written a bold new chapter in the struggle to keep animals in our world and support the people who stick their necks and lives out to work and live with them – animal lovers, carriage drivers, pony ride operators, elephant trainers, Blue Star, so many good farmers. They are the true salvation of animals, the true protectors of their rights and welfare. We can no longer sit back and blame ideologues and people who exploit animals for their own emotional needs. Before, we could say we didn’t know.

Now, we know.

The next farmer, thanks to Joshua, will get on Facebook and call for help. And help will come. The prosecutors and police will take note, I don’t think they enjoyed this struggle one bit, neither did the town officials or the horse rescue farms. Every day, people call the Glenville Town Court and demand to know when Joshua’s next hearing is, every day of the year. They have never flagged and never left  him behind, even in our distracted world of short attention spans.

Thousands of people stepped forward to help Joshua. We are a village, we are a community. I will always think of our friend and farrier Ken Norman, hauling giant tires out to Joshua’s farm so that he can build his new solar-powered water tanks. He didn’t have to do that. So many others helped as well.

This is a game-changer. This is important.

This was an injustice, no one deserves to suffer the way Joshua has, and for such poor reason,  but good has already come from it, and more good will follow. I can’t thank you enough, neither can Joshua. Sometime in the next week or two, another court hearing will be announced. I will try and keep you posted, keep an eye on Joshua’ very open blog and the website of the Glenville, N.Y. Town Court.

I think the horses will be coming home next week.