Cattaraugus County Horse Rescue
ABUSED HORSES NEED YOUR HELP.
On a cold winter morning in February of 2016, a Catt County snowplow driver noticed a horse down in a field on a rural road in Cattaraugus County, New York State. She plowed the road, but came back to check on the horse. The horse was still lying there, unmoving. Finally, she pulled over, got out and waded through the ditch, three foot snow drifts, over the barbed wire fence, and out to the horse. She immiediately knew something was very wrong. It was an older black Percheron mare who was in distress.
The snowplow driver called the SPCA animal cruelty investigator, as it was apparent the horse had been there for some time and someone knew about it. There was a cover over the back end of the horse and there was evidence of struggle on the part of the horse to rise from the ground.
The investigator quickly appeared as did a neighboring equie farm owner that had been called by the SPCA for help. All attempts made to help the horse up failed. The horse was very wet and shivering. A vet was called and the assessment was made that she had lain there too long with too much damage to her internal organs. The horse was humanely euthanized.
While waiting for the vet, other horses were noticed in an adjoining field and it appeared that they did not have any hay or other food source. The investigator and other went to check on those horses, who also were wet and shivering, with no shelter or hay. A search warrant was applied for and granted and quickly executed on the farm.
It quickly became apparent that the situation at the farm was a severe case of animal abuse and hoarding. When all of the animals were counted, there were over 650 animals on that farm. Chickens. Rabbits. Goats. Cows. Sheep. Turkeys. Dogs. All of the animals were uncared for, underfed, most living in cages covered with their own filth. Nine aged stallions were locked in 10 x 10 stalls with no hay or water. They were standing in manure and urine up to their knees, and had to turn their heads off to the side to avoid hitting the ceiling. There were other signs of neglect. It was obvious they had not seen the light of day for many years.
In total there were 46 horses on that farm, including the 9 stallions. All were underfed; many had unaddressed medical issues. A handful were blind or partially blind. They had been subjected to the elements year after year, in a field out in the open, with no shelter and not enough to eat.
The SPCA moved in, and all of the smaller animals were moved off the farm, and were adopted by people in the community or were taken in by Farm Sanctuary. But what do you do with 46 untrained horses? Farm Sanctuary does not take horses. How does a small, rural SPCA manage to take care of them, find people who will adopt them, despite their condition, medical concerns and/or lack of training or manners, and care for them the rest of their lives? It was a monumental task, with many ups and downs, and a lot of frustration and tears.
The stallions were gelded, and all of them were found good homes. They were introduced to the outside world with grass under their feet, enough to eat, and people who would care for them for the rest of their lives.
And the mares? Well, it was harder sledding for some of them. Most found new homes, and today have full bellies and shelter when the wind whips and the snow drifts deep in the wintertime. But there were ten mares whose placement was far mor difficult.
These are the horses no one wants. One in blind, some are lame, some have been uncared for and/or abused for so long it will be harder for them to ever trust humans. A significant number had injuries that had not been cared for and will stay with the horse for as long as it lives.
The SPCA of Cattaraugus County has long since run out of adequate funds to care for these horses. The hoarders and abuses who did this to these animals paid a small fine, the Cattaraugus County legislators came up with another small amount, and other people made donations. But it costs a lot of money to care for a horse, especially if that horse has to be boarded out and needs veterinary care.
So, PLEASE, donate to the Ten Horses remaining from this terrible situation, so that they can be cared for until Forever Homes can be found for them. If money is not found for them soon, decisions regarding their life and death will have to be made. Please help them TODAY. They are counting on your help.
On a cold winter morning in February of 2016, a Catt County snowplow driver noticed a horse down in a field on a rural road in Cattaraugus County, New York State. She plowed the road, but came back to check on the horse. The horse was still lying there, unmoving. Finally, she pulled over, got out and waded through the ditch, three foot snow drifts, over the barbed wire fence, and out to the horse. She immiediately knew something was very wrong. It was an older black Percheron mare who was in distress.
The snowplow driver called the SPCA animal cruelty investigator, as it was apparent the horse had been there for some time and someone knew about it. There was a cover over the back end of the horse and there was evidence of struggle on the part of the horse to rise from the ground.
The investigator quickly appeared as did a neighboring equie farm owner that had been called by the SPCA for help. All attempts made to help the horse up failed. The horse was very wet and shivering. A vet was called and the assessment was made that she had lain there too long with too much damage to her internal organs. The horse was humanely euthanized.
While waiting for the vet, other horses were noticed in an adjoining field and it appeared that they did not have any hay or other food source. The investigator and other went to check on those horses, who also were wet and shivering, with no shelter or hay. A search warrant was applied for and granted and quickly executed on the farm.
It quickly became apparent that the situation at the farm was a severe case of animal abuse and hoarding. When all of the animals were counted, there were over 650 animals on that farm. Chickens. Rabbits. Goats. Cows. Sheep. Turkeys. Dogs. All of the animals were uncared for, underfed, most living in cages covered with their own filth. Nine aged stallions were locked in 10 x 10 stalls with no hay or water. They were standing in manure and urine up to their knees, and had to turn their heads off to the side to avoid hitting the ceiling. There were other signs of neglect. It was obvious they had not seen the light of day for many years.
In total there were 46 horses on that farm, including the 9 stallions. All were underfed; many had unaddressed medical issues. A handful were blind or partially blind. They had been subjected to the elements year after year, in a field out in the open, with no shelter and not enough to eat.
The SPCA moved in, and all of the smaller animals were moved off the farm, and were adopted by people in the community or were taken in by Farm Sanctuary. But what do you do with 46 untrained horses? Farm Sanctuary does not take horses. How does a small, rural SPCA manage to take care of them, find people who will adopt them, despite their condition, medical concerns and/or lack of training or manners, and care for them the rest of their lives? It was a monumental task, with many ups and downs, and a lot of frustration and tears.
The stallions were gelded, and all of them were found good homes. They were introduced to the outside world with grass under their feet, enough to eat, and people who would care for them for the rest of their lives.
And the mares? Well, it was harder sledding for some of them. Most found new homes, and today have full bellies and shelter when the wind whips and the snow drifts deep in the wintertime. But there were ten mares whose placement was far mor difficult.
These are the horses no one wants. One in blind, some are lame, some have been uncared for and/or abused for so long it will be harder for them to ever trust humans. A significant number had injuries that had not been cared for and will stay with the horse for as long as it lives.
The SPCA of Cattaraugus County has long since run out of adequate funds to care for these horses. The hoarders and abuses who did this to these animals paid a small fine, the Cattaraugus County legislators came up with another small amount, and other people made donations. But it costs a lot of money to care for a horse, especially if that horse has to be boarded out and needs veterinary care.
So, PLEASE, donate to the Ten Horses remaining from this terrible situation, so that they can be cared for until Forever Homes can be found for them. If money is not found for them soon, decisions regarding their life and death will have to be made. Please help them TODAY. They are counting on your help.
Organizer
SPCA in Cattaraugus County
Organizer
Olean, NY
SPCA in Cattaraugus County
Beneficiary