Has anyone ever had any success in reporting horse neglect to authorities?

Question

Just wondering if anyone on here has ever had cause to report horse neglect and/or abuse to the authorities, and actually had the authorities listen and find cause to intervene.

If you or someone you know has, I'd love to hear about it - what the situation was, what you did to alert the authorities, what the authorities did (if you know), and what the timeframe was.

Feel free to e-mail me if you feel more comfortable with that.

Answer 1

Yes, and it was the first time that I had ever done anything like this, but I knew the person and knew that it would do no good go confront him directly...plus, this has been 25 yrs ago, so I don't mind telling it on this forum...A life long friend and customer has some exotic ways of training, and I happened to walk into his stables in the middle of a "training session".  Apparently, he had a stud that simply wouldn't "put it away" and act a gentleman at the shows, so he figured he would just take the "spunk" out of him...long story short.....he put a harness on him, hung him from the rafters of his indoor arena...just high enough to take his feet out from under him, and then turned another stud in with him..usually, I respect other trainer's methods, but to me, this was just downright abuse and I phoned the authorities and followed up to make sure that they went out there RIGHT NOW, so that they could witness it.  They did, and they lowered to boom on him...I don't regret it for a moment...and NEVER HAVE.

ON THE OTHER HAND:  I have been on the receiving end of the same thing...of course, when the people from animal control visit, they know what they are looking for and compliment me on how I am doing and go away...but it is sort of an insult when you have several acres for a horse (and a little buddy mini that we bought, just for a companion) feed the best senior feed that you can, the best hay that you can find (free choice) vaccinate and worm and float teeth when appropriate and the farrier makes regular visits...we even change pastures on a regular basis so that they can come back to fresh ground ...anyway...I have someone, Gawd knows who, that drives down the road....hundreds of yards away, that has called in 3 complaints...(NO shelter)   (in a small pen with flies eating them up)  poor lonely horse, just stands around...on and on and on...this horse has earned his retirement, but still likes to be hitched to a carriage and prance like he is the best of the best, but for the most part, this 26 yr old horse deserves to just stand around in the shade with a full belly, with his little buddy until nature takes it's course...he is in no pain, gets over $150 worth of supplements every month..MSM, HA, and Lixotinic...he has lots of energy and still weighs approx 2000 lbs (reg Percheron)....some people just don't have a clue...nevertheless, I would still rather put up with the animal control people every day rather than have one animal that is being mistreated go unnoticed or unreported.

Answer 2

yeah...someone reported us to animal control saying we didn't provide any water to our horses.  dumbasses, our horses had AUTOMATIC WATERERS!!!  and no they weren't broken!

Answer 3

I have. It was about eh, 3 or 4 years ago. My neighbor was renting out 5 acres with a 10 stall barn across the street to a woman who aparently ran an 'animal rehibilitation and rescue' center.

They had about 25 horses on the property, as well as an asortment of other animals ranging from cattle, pigs, goats and chickens, cat's and dogs, to exotic animals such as snakes, baby tigers, other reptiles and marsupials.

I heard that the woman was selling a few of her horses to make a move so I made an apointment to go check a couple out. The woman was very smart about her animal hording and kept the property blocked off and fenced so normal people would have no idea what was really going on there. Once I pulled up and was rang in she took me to the back of the property where the horses were kept.

Just on the walk back I knew something was up. There were no horses in the barn and it was covered so you couldn't see a thing. Once she brought me back to the one pasture were all 20 something of the horses were, I knew we had a problem. They were ALL severely underweight and just in over-all poor shape. One of the stable hands brought out the filly i was interested in and this scruany little cremello with puss dripping out of every hole in her body stubled out.

I took a closer look and proceeded to to ask them if they knew the horse was suffering from strangles. They said, "Yup, but ya can't do anything but let it do it's thang." I was so frustrated, this poor filly was about to roll over dead and they could've cared less. I went back home and made a phone call to the police. They said they couldn't do anything call animal control. I did, and they led e back to the police.

I finally got someone to take a look at the place after 3 days of grovaling and beggin for someone to take charge. Come to find out not only were all the horses in horrible condition, but in the barn were stacks and stacks and stacks of little dogs in cages not big enough for them to stand.

ALL the animals from the property were seized and the woman's 'business' was closed down for good. I'm glad I had a part in helping the animals over there, I had no idea how serious it really was. For the whole ordeal to get settled it probably took about 2 or 3 weeks. I'm not sure what exactly happened to the woman after wards, and what the authorities decided to do with her, but i was just happy the animals were okay.

I took the filly after she had been stablized at the ASPCA center and she found a wonderful home after a few years with me to a little girl. She still keeps her at my property and they are a match made in heaven together.

Answer 4

Sometimes things are not what they seam.

Many years ago I actually worked at a so-called horse rescue farm. Before I say too much, I will say, that this particlar organisation has changed its name and the facility is now run as it should be.

Anyway going back to the late 80's, the rescue farm was owner/run by some very high up ex army types. They had a vast amount of cash and fundings but the people in charge where total crooks. Of course, for publicity purposes, all the famous horses ended their lives there ( The queens old drum horses, ex household calvery, Queens gaurd and the victems of the Hyde park IRA bombing ) But this was supposed to be a retreat for neglected, ill treated or horses that could no longer be cared for by the owner for whatever reason.

The farm even had its own horse ambulance.

The total running of this organisation was corrupt. Regular horses never,ever got a look in because it was basically run as a yard for dealing . The management would (by taking backhanders and the use of 3rd parties to buy cheap horses at auctions, fatten them up and sell them for gross proffitts.)

Of course the general public was not aware of the wheelings and dealings of this place. We felt it our job as the staff to try and sort it. Things were not going to be easy, because these people were very high profile. Anyway, all we really did to change things, was to get the message to the right people. It was difficuilt, but we just had to keep spreading the word and eventually it would hit home.

Answer 5

YES! That has happened to us. We read about a horse in the paper that sounded interesting, so we decided to drive to where they had him to look at him. Any way when we got there this horse was in such horrible shape! He was very skinny, his feet we cracked and long, he just looked sickly no worming, nothing... and when I talked to the man on the phone he sounded as if this horse was sound and in good shape. I was so upset I kinda let my mouth get away from me with this man! I yelled about how skinny he was and the man told me that he liked his horses like his women not fat which was the most absurd thing I have ever heard so we left and I called the authorities to report him. They asked for the address and to describe the animals. From the sound of it, it was like they didn't  care I doubt they even took the time to go over there!  

This kind of things makes me so mad.... people just don't care!

Answer 6

I have actually gotten a race horse boarding place in Detriot shut down because they starved my mare and other horses! my mare couldn't stand in the traialer she was so weak!!!!! That was 15 years ago! We called the humane society!

Answer 7

yep.They were killing that horse. They never gave it water. Now I'm glad she is happy. She is at a  foster home in wendell, NC.

Answer 8

I know someone that got reported.  They had just moved into a new place and had not built a shelter for their horses and it was going into winter.  Well someone called on them and they had to build a shelter and rehome the horses until the shelter was built.  The two horses went to my sister-in-laws place until they built a shelter.  They do follow through with complants.

Answer 9

When I was living in a small town at the bottom of Mt. Rainier (Washington) our neighbor had a huge heard of grade mares. The pasture had NO grass on it and he didn't feed. So the horses were emaciated and wormy. At one point, he had a stud come in for about a month and live with the herd and he impregnated all of the mares, so they were popping out babies left and right. I remember coming home one day and one of the horses got UNDER the barbed wire fence (yes, BARBED WIRE) and came into our yard to eat. I tried throwing a rope around her neck but there was NO catching her. They were completely unhandled. So I called someone to come get her out of the yard, and about a week later our German Shepard comes in from a romp around the property and throws up horse organs (FULL organs) al over the garage. I walk over to the neighbors and some of the horses died and the coyotes got to the remains. No one came out until there were dead horses lying around. But they FINALLY confinscated the ones who were still alive. It broke my heart, but I was only 16 and didn't really understand what was happening.

Answer 10

The authorities here in CA take neglect very serious. The problem is city slickers who have no idea about farm animals reporting on something they know nothing about. My cousin has an old horse half Arabian half Quarter Horse. This horse is probably close to 30 years old. She has her teeth checked regularly, she gets her yearly shots, wormed, she gets trimmed, she gets the best grain for adult horses (Purina Equine Senior) along with alfalfa. She is treated very well. These people walk their dogs by (It's a rural community, small ranchettes) and see that this horse is alone and see that she is a little on the thin side, as adult horses tend to be, and they report to the animal control. One lady felt sorry for the horse and left a blanket for her to lay on. ?$#@!* Hello?! A blanket for a horse? These people don't have a clue. We actually had the same thing happen when we got an old lesson horse from a trainer. He was fed the best of feed and had everything he needed, but you still have your city people who don't know a horse from...well, you know what I mean.

add~ I forgot to say what happened. Anyways, the animal control did come right out. They saw that all the other horses we had looked great and they saw that this horse was not neglected, just really getting old. They came to my cousins and my uncle showed them the feed she was getting and they saw that she was not neglected also. They said they have to follow up on all calls. So our part of CA is good about checking on animal abuse or reports of it. We are in Oakdale (The Cowboy Capital of the World).

Answer 11

Yes. For 2 mares. The girl who said CA is good at that, has no idea..... I had to call for 3 mons for them to do something. Meanwhile I was feeding them.  But CA are the n**i state!!! Lived there for 30yrs! Thank god I'm out & will never go back!!!! They have too many stupid laws!! Spayed & newter you dogs or you get fined. My mom is a Aussie breeder has been for 27 yrs or so. Now they want to Tax the p**p out of her because she want to keep her dogs unfixed. Were in the world did the Big Brother have the say with our pets???? They do!  Horses are next! They are tring to push out chickens, pigs. They closed most of the cow daries.... Sorry I had to rant......

******Edit***********

I got this E mail from my grandma. Just food for thought!

NEW FINES START JULY 1, 2008.......... BE CAREFUL 1. Carpool lane --- 1st time $1068.50 starting 7/1/08 (The $271 posted on the highway is out-dated)          Don't do it again because 2nd time is going to be double. 3rd time triple, and 4th time license suspended.

2. Incorrect lane change --- $380. Don't cross the lane on solid lines or at intersections.

3. Block intersection --- $485

4. Driving on the shoulder --- $450

5. Cell phone use in the construction zone. --- Double fine (2 times $285) as of 07/01/08.         AND all Cell phones must be 'hands free' while driving.

6. Passengers over 18 not in their seatbelts ---- both passengers and drivers get tickets .

7. Speeders --- allowance only drive 3 miles above the limit.

8. DUI = JAIL  (Stays on your driving record for 10 years!)                        

9.  As of 07/01/08 cell phone use must be 'hands free' while driving. Fine is $285.         They will be watching closely --- easy money for  police department.!!!

Answer 12

Well no immediate action, but they remembered me when the time came.

About 3 years ago, I met a 5 year old Australian Shepherd, named Gigi.  She lived with a bunch of other dogs just down the road from where we were living.  She showed up at our doorstep, ribs and backbone showing, her coat instead of long with feathers, looked like a short Queensland Heeler's.  

I learned that she also had been allowed to breed to anything so that her owner could sell the pups for beer money.  She looked at me with this BIG eyes and I was a goner!  She'd come over, I'd fill this bowl I'd bought for her with about a 3 LB coffee can of dry food and top it with 1/2 a BIG can of wet.  She'd devour it all and then I'd send her home with TWO BIG dog bones for the seven puppies.  She decided I was a better home and when she could, she'd sneak pups to me, I'd worm 'em, get them their shots and find them homes.  Tim would drive by, whistle for her and even with the gate wide open, she'd ignore him.  One day he threatened to sue and Gigi had to go back with one of the pups.  BUT she would sneak back for visits.

I found out that the idiot who owned her also had 2 horses, a QH mare and a APHA stud.  He had 3 but his old gelding got dryland distemper and died because no vet would treat his horses because he wouldn't pay the vet bill.

Anyway, we moved out of the area after talking to the Animal Control and requesting that WHEN they finally confiscated his animals I wanted Gigi (The Aussie).

Several months later, Tim (The owner) was about 1/2 drunk and decided he was going to turn his stud loose with his mare and instead of putting a halter on him, simply took a length of rope and made a loop which he tied around the stud's neck.  When he got the cowboy gate open, the stud smelled/saw the mare and bolted.  The rope wrapped itself around Tim's legs and they say he looked like a sleeping bag being bounced around the pasture as the stud persued the mare.  

He is presently residing in a full care facility unable to talk, eat, or walk on his own.  Because I made that call to Animal Control several months before, they remembered me and Gigi and another of Tim's dogs now reside with me and are currently on diets (They don't starve!).  The horses were fostered by neighbors and eventually found new homes.

I like to call it "Karma"...