After more than a year of drought in Texas, sparse crops, and the price of hay more than doubling, abandoned horses and donkeys are being found along roads and on run-down farms all over the state. Authorities say the numbers are at least ten times greater than in previous years.
According to Dennis Sigler, a horse specialist at Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas, the market for horses is non-existent, pastures have long since been decimated, the hay fields have dried up, and the price of hay from out of state has sky rocketed making horses a luxury most people cannot afford.
The horses being abandoned are often malnourished and haven't had veterinarian or farrier care for some time, creating additional expenses for any rescue or individual taking them in to care for them.
The Californian charity Peaceful Valley Donkey Rescue said they see one case of abandonment every day in Texas, and the situation is dire since livestock sales typically will not accept donkeys. Abandonment has reached epidemic proportions because of the drought and cost of feed..
Horse abandonment is a crime, and state law requires abandoned horses to be held by the local sheriff's department for 18 days. After that, most are sold at a sale barn for whatever prices they can bring.