Humanesociety.org/news
November 25, 2009
Neglected Horses Rescued in Tenn.
Once in a struggle to survive, 84 horses will soon be on their way to better health.
The horses were seized by the Sheriff's Department due to signs of neglect and poor health, and have now been surrendered by their owner. The horses, who were rescued from squalid conditions on a 100-acre Bradyville farm, are now under the ownership of The HSUS.
Rescuers also removed seven dogs, two goats and two chickens from the property. The animals were all in poor condition.
A Struggle to Survive
"This rescue came not a moment too soon for the animals, including 84 horses struggling to survive," said Scotlund Haisley, senior director of Emergency Services at The HSUS.
"There's no excuse for starving or neglecting an animal. It is the responsibility of every horse owner to provide humane, responsible care for their horses at all stages of their life."
When rescuers arrived on the property, they found many Tennessee Walking Horses and Spotted Saddle Horses, as well as quarter horses.
Tennessee Walking Horses and Spotted Saddle Horses are two breeds that commonly suffer from soring, an abusive practice that involves the intentional infliction of pain to a horse's legs or hooves in order to force an artificial, exaggerated gait.
Many of the horses were extremely emaciated and suffering from a variety of medical ailments including overgrown, infected hooves and parasite infestation. Rescuers also found several dead horses on the scene.
Joining Forces to Help
Local law enforcement was alerted to this critical situation by citizens concerned for the health of the horses.
The sheriff's department called in The HSUS to act as the lead animal welfare organization in the case. The HSUS then called in United Animal Nations to provide sheltering support and Volunteer Equine Advocates to assist in animal handling and transport.
Invaluable assistance was also provided by officials from the Tennessee State Fairgrounds, who provided a stable to be used as an emergency shelter.
“Today marks a new beginning for these animals, who can now begin their journey to healthy, happy lives”
“This rescue would not have been possible without the outpouring of support we received from local horse lovers willing to come to the aid of these neglected animals,” said Leighann McCollum, Tennessee state director for The HSUS.
Rescuers are removing all of the horses from the property and transporting them to a temporary shelter. Once the horses reach the shelter they will be checked by a team of veterinarians and given any necessary immediate medical care.
Once they are strong enough to be transported again, these horses will be placed with local rescues and adopted out to responsible homes.
Source
Have A Heart Horse Rescue claimed the horses last week and will rehabilitate them until they're strong enough for adoption, said the nonprofit agency's founder, Sheila Horton.
Tennessee state agricultural authorities discovered the horses, as well as dogs, mules and hens, on the property Nov. 20 while investigating a report about a dead horse. All the animals were removed from the site days later by law enforcement and the Humane Society of the United States.
They were transferred to the Tennessee State Fairgrounds in Nashville, where they were nurtured until rescue groups like Have A Heart could take them.
Of the five Horton took in, one was pregnant, all were emaciated, and many had symptoms of rain rot, a bacterial skin infection common in horses - especially those that don't receive routine care. It causes scabs and sores.
"These horses were ones and twos on the body scale," Horton said, "which is about as low as you can get."
It's unclear how long it will take to rehabilitate the animals, but Horton said it could be months.
"They have had a long, hard journey, but better days are certainly ahead for these horses," Horton wrote on her Web site, which includes photographs of the horses. "No animal deserves to be starved, and we hope this case can bring to light the need for tougher animal cruelty laws in all states."
The horses' owner, Eugene Howland Jr., was arrested and charged with animal cruelty. Howland has a Jan. 12 court date in Cannon County, and he is free on a $1,500 bond.
Source
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