Story Created:
Jul 21, 2009 at 5:13 PM CST
Story Updated:
Jul 21, 2009 at 5:13 PM CST
(July 21, 2009)
PORTLAND--The third-driest drought in Coastal Bend history is beginning to impact animal abuse cases, especially horses. More are coming in everyday, but law enforcement agencies don't have anywhere to put them.
Gone are the days when horses could graze off grass on ranches and be fed well. Now, it's becoming expensive to take care of horses and that's leading to some tough times for owners.
Agnes is a young filly who was seized late last year from a home in the Rockport area. She's one of about 15 rescued horses placed with Dottie Clowher, a member of the Bluebonnet Equine Humane Society based in Portland. Agnes has gone from being malnourished to a fine looking filly.
"She has gone from shed out her ugly coat," Clowher said. "She has basically gone from an ugly duckling to a nice pretty petite little horse."
While Agnes is one of the lucky horses to be rescued and on her way to recovery, other horses in the Coastal Bend aren't so lucky. The reason: horse rescue organizations just don't have space to take them in.
"There are no places for horses to go," said Clowher. "We are limited to and can't help out law enforcement."
Contributing to the problem, the drought means there's only small amount of grass on ranches for horses to eat. Higher prices for hay is making it hard for owners to have enough feed on hand for their animals.
That's leading to more reports of animal abuse and reports of straying horses getting out of pastures in search of fresh grazing.
"They have no grass in their pasture because it's been eaten," Clowher said. "They see grass in the ditch in the side of the road. They're going through these fences, trying to get to it."
With the heat index over 100 degrees, some horses get weak and fall down, like this one. So it's important the animals have water and shade.
"These horses are going to suffer," said Clowher. "They're going to lose weight and they're going to continue to go down. Yes, you need to pay attention to your horses."
--Manuel De La Rosa, Area 3 News, mdelarosa@kiiitv.com
Wednesday, Jul 22 at 2:19 AM Anonymous wrote ...
i used to be a animal control officer and these animals are getting harder and harder to place so please if you have or know someone with horses and they are starting to loose weight sell them give them to a good home or get with a rescue and see what they can do to help you get what you need ie. hay water tanks...some of those horses that are there i put there and they have come a long way..i would hate so see anymore come in in the shape that i have seen some take care of them they are animals
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