FORT WAYNE, Ind. (Indiana's NewsCenter) - Meet Michelle Heitz, who’s owned the "Shadarobah Horse Rescue" on Highway 33, for the past year.

"Shadarobah" is Native American for, "may the future be better than the past."

Michelle has 28 horses there, right now.

She takes-in abused or neglected animals, or ones whose owners can't afford to care for them.

Some of them come in very ill.

"Most" are nursed back to health and adopted-out.

And, a "few" stay with Michelle, her family, and the volunteers, there.

Joan Cushing, a volunteer who nominated Michelle, has been there since May.

Their "mutual respect" is... Inspirational.

Joan said, “She pours her heart out for these animals to try and take care of them and nurture them back to health with the help of volunteers. But, it's all focused on the horses. Whenever you talk about them, you see the twinkles in her eye because she knows their histories, where they came from, their stories. Some are really heart breaking. The whole idea is to find them a Forever Home."

Angel, Michelle says, “Joanie's really been a God-send to me. I didn't wake up one day and say, oh, I think I'm gonna open a hose rescue. All the pieces were laid out for me, and I was just kinda crazy enough that, when put on that path, God knew I was gonna follow the steps and go overboard 'cause that's what I do."

Michelle depends on donations and volunteers.

Right now, some Burmese immigrants are helping her.

Shadarobah has a fall benefit, Saturday, October 17th and then, children can trick-or-treat at the horse-stalls with the animals, "in costume" October 30th.

If you know an "Angel Among Us," Click here to nominate your Angel.