hossingaround

I just read a horrifying story of 3 dozen horses found at a so-called horse rescue ranch in Colorado. The organization hadn't built any shelter for the horses from the weather and only 4 bales of hay were observed for food! Four horses were found dead and another had to be euthanized as it was so bad off.

The owners claim they were caught off guard by the weather and that the horses were already in that shape when they "rescued" them but it sounded fishy to me. Some horses were so emaciated that they were close to half of what their normal body weight would be! They are facing several charges of animal cruelty. At the very least, these people were extremely negligent.

horseplay

That doesn't sound right. If it was a legitamite rescue operation, they would have plenty of hay on the property, as well as proper shelters built. If they didn't have the proper accomodations for that many horses, they should have had the horses sent somewhere else. I wonder if money was involved, maybe a certain amount per head. It's just not right.

charley

I hate to read stories like this. Why would someonwe do something to an animal. They are supposed to be loved and cared for not abused. Whenever I drive by sub-par horse facilities I wonder if the horses are cared for properly.

Izzy

Yikes, this is terrible. Of all places, a rescue centre should be a safe haven for a horse. If they cannot expect to be safe there, then where can they?

flatback_frannie

Oh! The poor things. From the frying pan to the fire. If they were a good rescue organization they would have plenty of food and documentation on the horses conditions, and vet working with them.

SaddleSore

Why don't rescue organisations get checked out? Don't they have some kind of licensing that they need to have, if nothing else but to get charity status?

Rameses

Maybe this 'rescue' outfit is a renegade one that missed the regulators. Fortunately these incidences are relatively rare, which is not say that a single event is an excuse for negligence.