Late last week, officials with Sampson County Animal Control in North Carolina contacted members of the Southeast Coast Region of the U.S. Equine Rescue League to request their help in assessing the health of 54 horses ranging in age from just a couple weeks old to full grown, pregnant mares. Officials believe this could be a case of animal hoarding.
A case of horse hoarding?
Late last week, officials with Sampson County Animal Control in North Carolina contacted members of the Southeast Coast Region of the U.S. Equine Rescue League to request their help in assessing the health of 54 horses ranging in age from just a couple weeks old to full grown, pregnant mares.
Most of the animals were found suffering from malnutrition, and many have open wounds, serious infections and skin issues according to the US Equine Rescue League. Most of the animals were found suffering from malnutrition, and many have open wounds, serious infections and skin issues according to officials.
Debbie Walsh Bartholomew, chapter director, described the farm as "disgusting." Bartholomew said, "We have two-week old babies, pregnant mares, stallions, all mixed in together."
Most of the animals were found suffering from malnutrition, and many have open wounds, serious infections and skin issues according to the Rescue League.
To date, charges have not been filed for abuse and neglect according to the Sampson County Sheriff's Office.
Officials said that ponies, miniature horses, yearlings, and elderly horses were co-mingled in several enclosures and a barn on Bob Rupert Drive near Plain View, NC. Of the horses listed above, several were found pregnant and even more had wounds consistent with injuries sustained from fighting over food and "wounds not treated, lice, rain rot, winter coats still intact, and anything else you can imagine." Bartholomew said.
"If anyone would like to help, we need everything—fosters, adoptions (through or not through the rescue league), money, grain, hay." Volunteers are using social media to spread the word about the case through the groups Facebook page.
The USERL is a national, non-profit equine rescue organization. All donations are tax-deductible, and 100 percent of donations go to the care and rehabilitation of abandoned, abused, and neglected horses. The Southeast Coast Region serves all of Eastern North Carolina.