GRANBY, Conn. -- A 16-stall barn that boards horses in hopes of finding them homes is facing overcrowding.

“We try and find them a forever home, and sometimes it just doesn't work out, and we take all our horses back,” said Heather Grant, of Second Chance Ranch.

She said they had 18 horses at the barn as of Tuesday and expect to have 21 by the weekend.

When the ranch adopts out horses, Grant said, those taking the horses are told the ranch will take the animals back if it’s needed.

She said more people are taking them up on that offer because they can no longer afford to take care of the animals.

“A woman had lost a job or lost most of the hours at her job and had to give up her horses because she didn't want to just see them go anywhere,” said Grant. “She wanted to make sure that they were going to be looked after, and we took them.”

The ranch operates on donations, she said. It has watched the price of feed and fuel go through the roof, she said, and is struggling to keep afloat.

In addition to the horses being returned, she said, the phone is constantly ringing with people trying to place horses they can no longer keep.

“I mean, we get eight to 12 calls and e-mails a day trying to get us to take horses because people can't afford them anymore,” said Grant.

But the ranch can't take any more horses and is having trouble taking care of the ones it already has.

“It’s very scary, because we don't want to have to put a horse down,” Grant said. “We want to give them a life. They're great animals. We're stretched.”

For information or to help, visit the Second Chance Ranch Web site.