By Angela Alspaugh | Project Leader
When we get calls about horses in need, most often it's about one or two horses. Maybe three. In August we started receiving calls from multiple concerned citizens in a small neighboring county about twelve horses and two mules being neglected by the owner. The callers reported that the majority of the herd were very thin and they rarely saw food available for the equines. As fate would have it, a supporter and friend of our rescue is friends with the neighbor of the owner. We were able to retrieve second hand, and then first hand information about the situation.
After receiving photos of the malnourished horses, and then news that two had recently died on the property, we contacted the local law enforcement and offered any assistance we could. At the same time, neighbors of the owner were relentless in their attempts to get these horses and mules help. The owner was resistant to all offers of help from neighbors. Instead, it seemed he was just going to let them die.
When two additional horses did die from starvation and/or sickness related to malnutrition, law enforcement finally decided to intervene. Fast forward through a week of property visits by law enforcement, legal paperwork, and a judge's order, the remaining 10 equines were removed from the property and placed together in a foster home. Two stud horses, 8 mares, and 2 mules. Their weights range from adequate to very thin and malnourished.
It is likely none have had any recent veterinary care.
Because of our wonderful donors, we were able to say "yes" and take all those equines into our program. Now the real work begins. All will be vaccinated, dewormed, checked for injury and illness and seen by an equine dentist and farrier. Eventually the two stud horses will be castrated. Then will come the adventure of locating adoptive homes for them all.
Simply put, we just cannot do what we do for horses in need without you. Thank you. Stay tuned for progress on "the herd".
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