Horse Rescue Underway

 After  owner Nigh Lowhon, was taken away in handcuffs rescuers that had lined the streets with their trailers were finally allowed on to the property.

Escorted by Sgt Laurie Murray, Veterinarian Tom from Angels Camp Veterinary Clinic began the long process of examining each horse, drawing blood, and rating them on the Henneke Scale, a scale designed to rate the body condition of a horse. A normal healthy horse will rate between 5 and 6, the first horse Dr. Tom rated landed at 2. It was the Stallion.

The Stallion, the owners claim to be so old they wouldn’t be able to find them a home and who lived in squalor of a 10’ by 10’ dog kennel, turned out to be approximately 5 or 6 years old, with more testing needing to be done to determine correct age.

While the stallion was being assessed the volunteers from Re-Horse Rescue along with local volunteers Paul Kezis, Bob and Leeann Kenyon, Sharon McCormick  and more began to coordinate the removal of the remaining 9 horses from a pen so deep with mud, feces, and stagnant scum covered puddles, the horses struggled simply to walk. In each pen the water troughs were empty save for a few rocks.

At a court date on June 1, 2009 neighbors were summoned and had to testify to the conditions. Again in early 2010 reports were made to the Animal Control. As the complaints mounted the horses living conditions grew worse. Finally a realtor and horse lover , Sue Andres, saw the condition of the horses and began a movement to save them.

The question that was repeated so many times was “What took so long?” Though answers varied, they all seemed to follow one trend, ‘there’s a new Sheriff in town.’

The group that gathered today had one purpose in mind, ‘save the horses.’

Re-Horse Rescue, located in Jamestown will be taking the majority of the horses while Remington Ranch in Soulsbyville will be taking the Stallion for foster care. With this new influx of needy horses Re-Horse is in serious need of donations and or volunteer help. If you want to help please visit their website at rehorserescue.org.

 

By, Charity Maness