A Sad Story
It was a cold winter day in early January; temperatures were forecast to drop in the low to mid twenties that night. We arrived on the scene to investigate a recent report of a horse
that was not being fed properly and had been deteriorating for months. No one was at home and we could not get a visual on the horse that was kept in a small backyard in a residential
neighborhood. Then, my partner spotted him; he was down on the ground and seemed to be struggling to get up. We grabbed a halter and lead rope and rushed to his aid. What we saw was
heartbreaking. Here was once a magnificent quarter horse stallion, laying there helplessly, severely emaciated and too weak to stand. We tried to help him up, to no avail. It was too
late. This horse was not going to make it. That night, I was haunted by that scene. While we were able to get a vet out and have him humanely euthanized, I kept going over and over
in my mind; how could this have been avoided. Why didn't we receive a report on this horse, that could be seen from a public road, sooner? What goes through people's minds when they
see an emaciated animal and they don't bother to call the authorities? Is it that they don't want to get involved? Are they too busy? Maybe they think someone else will do it.
Surely, it is not because they don't care. Yet, here we stood, unable to help this horse that had literally been starved to the point of no return. As a horse rescuer, this is the
hardest part of my job; getting there too late.
If you see a horse or any animal that you suspect is in need, PLEASE report it to the proper authorities. There is no reason why this should happen. There is help for them.
We just need to know about it.
Diane Lowery
President/Panhandle Equine Rescue
HOT LINE - 850-587-3565
