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Bend summit tackles 'crisis' of neglected horses
Posted: Oct 22, 2008 08:55 PM EDT
Tough times hit; gathering planned before latest sad tale
By Nina Mehlhaf, KTVZ.COM
"The number of calls are increasing on the care not being sufficient," said Deschutes County sheriff's Lt. Gary Decker.
It's a crisis - that's what members of the horse community said at a meeting about owners who feel they have no other choices but to abandon or shoot their own horses for lack of money to feed and care for them.
Ironically, Wednesday's conference was put together weeks before "Trooper" came along. He's the male Arabian horse that was found wandering last Friday in the Sisters Ranger District, with a bullet wound to the head.
A virtual who's who of the Oregon horse world came together at Bend's AmeriTitle office with a mounting crisis on their hands.
"We're receiving calls almost daily," said Crook County sheriff's Lt. Russ Wright. "On the neglect portion, people have these horses, the economy is in such a way they can't afford to put food on their own table, and they are not feeding the horse."
Agency after agency reported to the Humane Society of the United States that calls for help are increasing as budgets get tighter.
The Forest Service is now dealing with dumped farm animals in the woods. Rescue groups that take unwanted or abused horses are all at capacity, with fewer donations of hay and money.
Trooper is just the latest example. The theory is, his owner couldn't deal with a bad leg injury that had eaten away flesh down to his ligaments. Euthanization costs at least $400, so he tried to shoot him, but Trooper lived, running around the forest for over a week.
"This is affecting public lands, and people are getting into situations where they feel like they don't have a choice but to let a horse loose," said Forest Service Officer Fred Perl. "And there's a big education campaign that needs to continue."
Rescue charities agreed to get a statewide database together of foster homes and other ranches that could board the unwanted animals.
They formed committees to research hay donations and rendering options out of state. But more responsibility may fall on their shoulders soon, as sheriff's officials bluntly warned that the new crop of younger officers aren't interested in animal abuse cases.
Meanwhile, for Trooper, more evidence photos were taken this week. He was scanned for a microchip that wasn't there, and farriers are trying to identify his horseshoes, so hopefully a suspect can be caught.
"I find this a very concerning situation, and we want to remain optimistic we can solve this case," Perl said.
All of these rescue groups desperately need donations of either hay or money to keep their adoption programs going.
Although Trooper has been adopted, his medical bills are being taken care of by Bend Equine Medical Center, which is also taking donations to cover the cost.
Meanwhile, a private citizen has offered a $1,000 reward to help find the suspect. The Forest Service and sheriff's office reported Wednesday receiving several tips from the community that they are investigating. Anyone with information about Trooper or how to identify the owner was asked to contact sheriff's detectives at (541) 617-3393.
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