Horse theft is a crime that is alive and thriving in the U.S. today with thousands of horses missing each year. With the help of volunteers through Shelby NC's Stolen Horse International, aka NetPosse.com, many horses are recovered and there is hope for victims like Michelle Pool, even almost 10 years after her horse was stolen.
Horse theft - Alive and well in US
Michelle Pool's horse Opie was stolen from her father’s pasture 10 years ago and the theft was reported to Stolen Horse International.
Pool filed a report in San Antonio, Texas in March of 2003 for Opie, her spotted American Saddlebred horse stolen from her father’s pasture on highway 181. Shortly after she reported her stolen horse to Stolen Horse International, his webpage was put on the website www.netposse.com, and NetPosse Alerts were sent to thousands who sent them to thousands. But Opie was not anywhere in sight. As the years passed Pool never quit thinking of Opie and wondering what happen to him.
“We got “Opie” Sultan’s Modern Opus when he was just a new foal of 16 months. He came to live with us in Red Oak outside of Dallas and we began loving him from day one,” say Pool. “I still remember having to explain to two small children and a teen who wholeheartedly wanted to connect with something with amazing loving hearts that the world was not a nice place as I want them to believe so desperately.”
She and her children do not have to wonder anymore! A tipster called Stolen Horse International around noon on Monday to report an ad they’d seen on Craigslist. With an interest in possibly buying the horse they had searched the NetPose.com website first to see if he was one of the horses on the website. He was!
After receiving the wonderful news the first thing Debi Metcalfe, President and founder of the organization had to do was find Michelle Pool! Pool’s contact information on the website had not been updated in years. Many data screens and phone calls later Pool was located in Eureka Springs, Arkansas.
Pool says this about that first phone call. “I was in shock and part of me did not believe it at first because I had been let down so many times. Debi said she was sure it was him.”
With Pool on the phone Metcalfe sent her pictures of Opie from the ad via email and heard her gasp as the pictures came into view.
“Oh my God! I never thought I’d see him again!” Pool cried. “Look! It is really him,” she told her children who were sitting with her at the computer.
After talking with Pool, Metcalfe organized her notes and notified the Dayton County Sheriff’s. Office while Pool called the Bexar Sheriff’s office. Hours later Metcalfe called the TSCRA Ranger who was assigned the case and gave him the particulars of the case as it had unfolded Monday. With his interest peaked at the prospect of returning a horse to its family more than nine years after its theft he and a Dayton County Deputy went to the residence where Opie lived last night and ceased the horse.
“I talked with Debi all day and she helped me find the right authorities and made calls on her own from her own connections to get me help not in a week BUT TONIGHT!” says Pool.
All is not well that ends well because the painful journey taken by this family for almost 10 years can never be erased. Being able to show her children that there are good people in the world and that Opie will be home soon is helping restored her faith in people. Pool concludes with the following thoughts.
“Opie was picked up by Jimmy Belt (TSCRA)and Missy Watson (Dayton County Sheriff’s Office) this evening and I will see him, kiss his face and blow in his nose soon. The shattered dreams I had are being put back piece by piece and glued together all with the help of two AMAZING people….the tipster DeAnna and Debi with Stolen Horse International – netposse.com THANK YOU!”
Stolen Horse International would like to thank everyone who played a part in this miracle. We never give up and we never underestimate the power of one,” says Metcalfe. “This is truly one of the miracles we love to see and are so thankful we get to share this moment with Michelle. It has been a good day.”
EARLIER THIS MONTH
A Christian camp has confirmed the recovery and return of two ponies stolen nearly two weeks ago from First Baptist Church of Westwood Lake’s Circle C Youth Ranch. According to the camps director Wayne Hershbeger both horses are back safe on camp grounds.
Wayne Hershbeger credits the media blitz which was set in motion by the press releases from Stolen Horse International as the reason Rusty and Sundae were recovered.
In a phone call with Hersbeger stated, “We got them back! We got a call last night. Somebody said they think they have our ponies and we went and investigated and they were our ponies and we got them back.”
Hersbeger filed a report on July 11th with Stolen Horse International’s website for the Rusty and Sundae. The organization immediately flew into action sending out NetPosse Alerts and press releases to news media in the local Miami area as well as nationwide through the American Horse Publications Association. Tens of thousands of NetPosse Alerts were sent out by mailing list to NetPosse Volunteers who sent them to their friends and posted them on public mediums such as facebook and twitter.
Debi Metcalfe, founder of Stolen Horse International states, “I knew that this could be a critical if not fatal situation for these ponies given the climate with the butchered horses in the Miami-Dade communities. We simply could not waste any more time. We had to make sure we made every effort to seek the help of the news media. We are so thankful to them for their cooperation and for their part in this recovery. “
In an email to Debi Metcalfe this morning Jeanette Jordan, President of the SFSPCA Horse Rescue commended the efforts of NetPosse.com.
“Miracles do still happen! Just got off the phone with Wayne,” she said. “They're in good shape! Thank God for NetPosse!”
A $500 reward was offered by the South Florida SPCA and is going to be paid to Stolen Horse International for the recovery of the horses.
“Money that has never been better spent! “Jordan continued.
Stolen Horse International is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. SHI was founded in 1998 by Debi Metcalfe after she and her family spent nearly a year trying to locate Idaho, their spotted racking horse mare. Idaho was recovered when a flyer they had posted at a convenience store resulted in the tip that led them to their horse in another state.