Going to Willcox today I see a horse standing next to a barb wired fence not too far from the road. I couldn’t believe my eyes. I had to turn around and go see if what I really saw … was what I really saw. I was almost in tears and then became furious. I took some pictures with the intentions of coming home and reporting this horse. I pulled the truck up to turn around on a small dirt road. I noticed a mailbox there with a name and address number on it. I later jotted them down. Then I saw an older man coming down the road. I put the passenger side window down to ask him if he owned horses. He said he did. I told him there was a horse standing at the fence a few paces back and that it was very malnourished looking. I asked him if it was his horse. He was hard of hearing so I had to repeat everything. He fumbled with words for a bit and told me he did have some horses. Then he asked if the one I saw was out of the fence. He told me that he did have one horse that just wouldn’t eat. I hate to say this, not knowing anything about this man, but I didn’t feel like he was being completely honest. I’m not the type who likes moseying around in everyone's business. But I cant just see a horse (or any animal for that matter) looking like it is starving to death and not do something. So yes, I called the humane society who had me call the Willcox police department who in turn gave me a number that deals with dead or mistreated livestock. I just got a call back from a woman there who needed more information and wanted me to send her a few of the pictures I took. Hopefully someone will do something for this horse and I pray it isn’t too late.
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
There is no excuse -
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
OMG! poor baby- nice job Jodi S -I sure hope they rushed right over there!
ReplyDeleteSome people just shouldn't have animals...
Well you did what you could do now it's up to the authorities. There was a horse farm about 25 miles north of me that had 14 horses taken away. They fell into hard times from the recession and were too proud to ask for help with their horses. Finally someone reported them after seeing what was going on. Very sad. Let us know if you find out what happened.
ReplyDeleteUpdate ... I did email the lady at the Arizona Department of Agriculture and sent her a few of the pictures. She emailed me back and this is what she had to say ..
ReplyDelete"Thank you for sending me the pictures. From the looks of it this animal appears to be quite old. Owner probably feels that he is doing the right thing by putting it out to pasture in its final years. However, this horse old or otherwise needs special attention and I will definitely be paying them a visit before the end of the week. We will do our best to take care of the situation."
I will email her by Monday to see if they did indeed go out to check on this horse. If there are other horses and those horses are all in good health then I will feel better about this situation. Still, If it's an old dying horse that refuses to eat it seems to me more humane to just put her down.
@Susan .. Thanks, I sure hope they do too.
ReplyDelete@Elaine .. I truly understand people having hard times financially and not being able to care for their pets any longer. But how hard is it to put a sign out, an ad in the paper, and make up fliers and post them? "Free HORSES to good home". Yes, it would be heartbreaking to let them go but it's downright cruel to just let them starve to death.
This is awful. We saw this last winter. My hubby called in and the vets and other were there right away. Some died. They had no feed and all the neigbours brought feed. The horses started to die and it was then they were all taken . Twenty was my count. Its so sad Jodi.
ReplyDeleteThere is no excuse. None. !
ReplyDeleteI noticed right way it looked like an old horse. But that is no excuse to just put it out to pasture and starve to death. It should be put down. Please keep us posted.
ReplyDeleteI completely forgot to come back and update this post. I DID contact the lady at the Arizona Department of Agriculture and asked her if she ever had the time to go check on this horse. Her reply below -
ReplyDelete____________________
"Hi Jodi,
I was able to locate the horse (or what I believe to be the same horse). He was in a pen back behind where you saw him. He had already grown his winter hair and had been rolling in the mud so his weight condition was very hard to determine. He had plenty of food and water as did several other horses on the property. All horses appeared to be in good condition. I did not locate the owner and was not able to get up close to the horses. I have turned this over to a livestock officer and if he feels necessary he will pursue the matter. It is my opinion that this is an older horse living out the remainder of his life as comfortably as possible.
Thank you,"
omgoodness.. thats awful. I think god had you walk that way to save him. I hope eveything is well.. well done to you for taking time to report this.
ReplyDeleteIt is so sad!! you can lead a horse to water, but you can not force him to drink. I have a ranch with 5 rescue horses. I have learned alot. My oldest Mare Sassy is 29 it is very hard to watch her try to walk, she is fed away from other mares so she get's her share. her apitite is small she is becoming, very fraile. I love on her she respond's back with love gestures. she comes when called, very slow. I am so confused some day's Is she happy? some day's yes I struggle with Putting her down! When I get old and fraile. Do I want somone to inject me with a lethal chemical that will end my life? or wait for the good lord to take me! it is such a hard choice!! to make.
ReplyDelete