By Dr. Barbara Kahl | President
Hello everyone,
As we all know, winter is a cold time of year when forage is no longer accessible on pasture, and some owners cannot feed their horses. This is the time when the most starvation cases arrive at our doors; this year is no different.
After a frigid week of near zero temperatures, water lines freezing, the ground hard as rock, crystallized with ice as well, a sweet arabian mare was left without food or blankets, yet she survived, barely. Her owners thought it was cute to see her legs tremble at the site of food, and told us that she also had a hard time standing. She just didn't want to get up. What they didn't want to believe is that those are all signs that she was close to death.
Our local sheriff stepped in after calls from the community started flowing in to their dispatch. The sheriff contacted us, we were sent to her rescue. A small, sweet mare we call Lyza was found barely able to walk. Every rib, her hips, and neck vertebrae were noticeable from a distance. Her hind legs are contorted from her muscles and tendons being catabolized in her body's last attempt to survive. Her eyes are dull and her vision is diminished from malnutrition. She was hypothermic and needed support to walk a straight line, and stand on her own.
There will be more like her in these coming months. Please help us educate people to avoid situations that Lyza endured, and help us provide safe shelter until she recovers. She needs alfalfa to help her body regain the much needed protein she was left without for months, a new warm blanket, and most of all affection from all of our volunteers to give her a reason to live.
When horses are this far down, they seldom recover, but we are giving her round-the-clock care. She is a trooper and we are giving her the best chance for recovery with 24 hour care.
Please help us help horses, No horse needed to endure what Lyza has. Education is the key to prevent this from happening - we are slowly getting there with your help. Please donate today.
By Dr. Barbara Kahl, DVM | Project Leader / President and Founder United SPCA
By Barbara Kahl | President
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