Sad, sad, sad.
- Thread starter equuskat
- Start date
Yes, this is very accurate. What is awful though, are some of the things that she says..."Saddest part is that they are all going to start dying one by one of colic and there's nothing that I can do to stop it", etc.
We had the choice between the hay bill and the electric bill...and we are now running off a generator... That makes me so incredibly angry. We had one of our mares starved almost to death with a foal at her side before she came back to us. I cannot STAND this.
I'd say call the newspaper. Call the local news channel. Call every animal control officer in the surrounding area, and call the police. Obviously, her "attempts" at caring for these animals is not getting anywhere, and she needs to be relieved of these animals. If there is no improvement, then that would be not complying with the order of animal control. What will it take? A dead horse on the property before the animals are seized?
It would honestly be better, it seems if someone were to go in and shoot the poor animals, it would be better than slowly starving to death.
Is there any way you could take them to rehome? Or help them be rehomed? Are there any equine rescue groups in the area?
I'd say call the newspaper. Call the local news channel. Call every animal control officer in the surrounding area, and call the police. Obviously, her "attempts" at caring for these animals is not getting anywhere, and she needs to be relieved of these animals. If there is no improvement, then that would be not complying with the order of animal control. What will it take? A dead horse on the property before the animals are seized?
It would honestly be better, it seems if someone were to go in and shoot the poor animals, it would be better than slowly starving to death.
Is there any way you could take them to rehome? Or help them be rehomed? Are there any equine rescue groups in the area?
I will not call that many people. I am sure that you understand that this woman taught me to ride along with all of my initial learning about horses and barn care. She is mentally ill - she is not a criminal. I don't want to destroy her if I can help it.
I cannot afford to take them, even though she would give them to me. She is hesitant to give them up to people that she doesn't know. I have been in contact with rescue groups, and I have a friend who wants to take one of the younger geldings. Action is being taken. There are 4 of her old students (myself included in that number) who are trying to relieve this situation.
Well, I wish you all the luck I can spare, for the horses' sakes. I would turn my own grandmother in for animal cruelty(heck,I'd turn my mother, sister, mentor in), because it is one of the most horrible things that you can do, IMO. Horses do not bounce back from that kind of abuse. It takes months of rehabililtation, as I am sure you know. At least full recovery is possible, with lots and lots of groceries, among other things. The animals would be my first priority, because they cannot help themselves.
Keep us updated on the situation.
Keep us updated on the situation.
Yeah, I am well aware that horses do not recover quickly after losing so much weight. I've been involved in horse rescue before. Thankfully, most of these horses (with three exceptions) are not "that far" gone, comparatively. We are trying to curb the situation before it gets worse.
I got an email this morning saying that one of the other people involved in the effort got a round bale donated yesterday, so at the moment, the horses have SOMETHING. Not ideal, but it's a start. I'll find out today if that 8yr old gelding has a home.
The animals ARE my first priority, and I am doing everything I can to keep the ball rolling in their favor. Unfortunately, if I were to call the authorities, most of them would end up going to auction after being confiscated.
I got an email this morning saying that one of the other people involved in the effort got a round bale donated yesterday, so at the moment, the horses have SOMETHING. Not ideal, but it's a start. I'll find out today if that 8yr old gelding has a home.
The animals ARE my first priority, and I am doing everything I can to keep the ball rolling in their favor. Unfortunately, if I were to call the authorities, most of them would end up going to auction after being confiscated.
YESS!! Small victories!
One of the regulars at the restaurant where I work has decided to adopt the two younger geldings!! He has been wanting to get a horse for his daughter, and decided to get one for himself, too. I was able to convince my friend to turn the horses over. SO cool. I am going with him on Friday afternoon to pick up his two new horses, both of which are just underweight, but will recover and be fine with some groceries.
One of the regulars at the restaurant where I work has decided to adopt the two younger geldings!! He has been wanting to get a horse for his daughter, and decided to get one for himself, too. I was able to convince my friend to turn the horses over. SO cool. I am going with him on Friday afternoon to pick up his two new horses, both of which are just underweight, but will recover and be fine with some groceries.
Oh nevermind. She called me back and changed her mind - she refuses to turn the horses over for free.
I am going to find a way to get MY HORSE and then I will call Animal Services. I can't watch these horses die. I'm going to lose a friend, but it's for the best, right?
I am going to find a way to get MY HORSE and then I will call Animal Services. I can't watch these horses die. I'm going to lose a friend, but it's for the best, right?
At this point if she is not mentally capable of making the right decision concerning what is best for the horses,it might be in your best interest to do what you know has too be done.It is a tough place you are in right now and not an easy decision to make,but if the women is deteriorating mentally then you will more than likely lose her as a friend anyways.Sometimes the right choices are not always the easiest.Best of luck.
Yes, that's true.
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Katy, I sympathize with your situation, and I'm glad that you're realizing that the woman is not in a competant mental state. She has people fighting to find them placement and get them out of a bad situation, but she is electing not to because she is not stable enough to realize that what she is doing is abusing and possibly killing something she loves. It's a hard decision when it is someone you know and care about, but also absolutely necessarry.
I was in a similar situation once. I volunteered at a wonderful little educational barn for several years. However, the owner started developing hoarding behavior, the barn lost the funding it was getting from the parks department (it is located on a state park), volunteerism dropped off as the kids helping out started getting old enough to care about dating and partying, and it got BAD. I did as much as I could. I removed five roosters, a disabled dove, and three rabbits to place them, helped out with trimming beaks, nails, and hooves, volunteered to clean and feed whenever I had a moment, even bought and donated feed.
It didn't matter. It didn't get better. It got worse. As in, rampant hoarding, inches of waste, animal carcasses littering pens, animals with serious untreated medical conditions, etc. Even though the animals were this woman's whole life, she clearly was struggling wtih mental illness. And though I'd worked with her for years, I did ultimately document the situation photographically, submit a written statement to the authorities, and her animals were confiscated. She was allowed to keep her eldest horse, two donkeys and her pig, under monitoring. The remaining animals are well cared for and under surveilence, and those who were confiscated were found homes if well enough (admittedly several were destroyed, but they were in VERY poor sorts).
It was hard to turn in someone I worked with and cared about, but it was definitely the right thing to do. I hope you find the strength to do the same. You know you'll have the support of ABers on the matter! :clap:
I was in a similar situation once. I volunteered at a wonderful little educational barn for several years. However, the owner started developing hoarding behavior, the barn lost the funding it was getting from the parks department (it is located on a state park), volunteerism dropped off as the kids helping out started getting old enough to care about dating and partying, and it got BAD. I did as much as I could. I removed five roosters, a disabled dove, and three rabbits to place them, helped out with trimming beaks, nails, and hooves, volunteered to clean and feed whenever I had a moment, even bought and donated feed.
It didn't matter. It didn't get better. It got worse. As in, rampant hoarding, inches of waste, animal carcasses littering pens, animals with serious untreated medical conditions, etc. Even though the animals were this woman's whole life, she clearly was struggling wtih mental illness. And though I'd worked with her for years, I did ultimately document the situation photographically, submit a written statement to the authorities, and her animals were confiscated. She was allowed to keep her eldest horse, two donkeys and her pig, under monitoring. The remaining animals are well cared for and under surveilence, and those who were confiscated were found homes if well enough (admittedly several were destroyed, but they were in VERY poor sorts).
It was hard to turn in someone I worked with and cared about, but it was definitely the right thing to do. I hope you find the strength to do the same. You know you'll have the support of ABers on the matter! :clap:
Thanks Ren.
I have the support of two more of her former students and we have made last ditch efforts to remove three horses that are most dear to us. This move will occur this weekend. On Monday, we will all three submit statements.
I have the support of two more of her former students and we have made last ditch efforts to remove three horses that are most dear to us. This move will occur this weekend. On Monday, we will all three submit statements.
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Katy, your intgrity and willingness to help animals amazes me. Pat yourself on the back for a job well done.
Aw, thanks Rob.
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Call the ASPCA, animal control, SOMETHING! Looks like their starving her, the poor thing!
Animal Control went to her place today and provided her with two round bales of hay. They gave her a written warning and said that if the condition of the animals had not improved in 6 weeks, they would be confiscated.
I am still pulling out two horses on Sunday. Yay. The situation is improving. Thanks to all of you concerned!
I am still pulling out two horses on Sunday. Yay. The situation is improving. Thanks to all of you concerned!