CABOT — Blaming bad publicity and some lawsuits, the owner of an embattled horse rescue organization said, “We’re calling it quits.”

Pam Vivarito of Equine Angels Rescue said in the organization’s 4-year existence, it rescued 148 horses from abuse or neglect.

But last year, a handful of the horses’ owners successfully fought to have charges of neglect against them withdrawn, and they sued for the return of their animals.

The lawsuit, which alleged the horses were improperly taken, eventually was settled for $105,000 in the horse owners’ favor. The settlement includes provisions for the plaintiffs to retrieve all of their horses and allowed state officials to inspect the horse owners’ farms for six months.

Vivarito said the bad news coverage of these events caused the nonprofit organization’s donations to drop.

“We were fine until all that bad publicity,” Vivarito said. “People believe what they read.”

And finally in the past week, the group heard from its largest benefactor that she could no longer financially support the organization.

“I cried all weekend,” Vivarito said.

The plan now is to find permanent homes for all 27 horses in the organization’s care and leave when the lease to the 27-stall facility ends in three months. Vivarito, owner of Salon 319, said she will return to being a hairdresser full-time.

People are asked to donate when they adopt a horse, and donation fees begin at $300.

Meantime, Vivarito is asking the community to chip in for hay and feed to keep the horses fed until they can be placed.

Tax deductible donations can be mailed to Equine Angels Rescue, 135 Durango Lane, Cabot 16023. Or call 412-629-3545 for more information about adopting the horses.

“If anybody can help, this is the best time to do it,” Vivarito said.