Monday, July 11, 2011
Animal Control
Sigh... I can't EVER just go on vacation... I drove to visit my in-laws and on my way passed a house that has fenced in its tiny yard and has 9, yes 9, horses on maybe an acre. They are so skinny that I could count their ribs from the road. This is the same place that I saw the foal in December without a blanket. Problem? They have food. They are feeding round bales, but the horses are in horrible condition and are much worse than when I saw them in December. I have the phone number for Animal Control and I am going to call tomorrow morning. Suggestions on what to say?? I have never called before.
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15 comments:
I think there has to be some sort of regulation for animals per acre. It IS tough with the food/shelter things, because as far as I know as long as they have feed, water and some shelter they are protected (and considered agriculture)...Depending on the zoning they might not even be allowed to have more then a few animals on one property. Definitely worth looking into!
I've never been in the position that you are, but one has to wonder if there are actual zoning laws regarding horses per acre or something. I know where I live it's about 1 per acre (I think, maybe 2) I know there is a law about it anyway. That might be a place to start. I wish I could be of more help.
Just tell them exactly what you have just told us, except with the location of course. Hopefully AC in that area is proactive and know how to deal with horses.
Just say what you see and what you know. That's all you can do.
They are usually pretty helpful and ask a lot of questions.
When I have called, they asked what bones where visible (e.g- hips, ribs, spine ect), what the hooves were like, whether they had shelter, food or water and if they were injured ect.
Good on you for helping out those poor horses.
My only suggestion is to be "factual" and keep the emotion out of it. I work for state government and believe me, if you go on an emotional rant, they will virtually ignore your concerns.
Pictures and documentation of what you observe (as specific in detail as possible) will get the best results.
I've never called animal control before, but I would imagine what you should say would be something like, "Hello I'd like to report some emaciated horses at location X. They are being fed, but their body conditions are horrible and just a round bale is not enough to get them back to a healthy body weight. Is there anything you can do to help them or the owners?"
Also see if you can take pictures via cellphone or something.
Sad situation, but unless your area is different, we don't see much action up here, unless there's no food or water provided. Never understand why low quality feed, lack of hoof or health care and cramped quarters doesn't count, but no one 'round here will bat an eye otherwise.
If they have food and water I don't think they will do anything . . . but I've never called either so I could be wrong. It's still worth a shot. If it were one or two horses in with a bunch of healthy horses that's one thing, but if they are all in bad shape maybe they will do something. I hope everyone else has good advice. Good luck and let us know what they say.
Round bales may not be enough nutrional value....may be also bad teeth and/or worms robbing them of what they need......those horses need to see a vet, but these "problems" may take a month or two of commitment to take effect...my vet last time out for an emergency kick to the private parts to my mare which resulted in inflammation and discharge, said he thought she was underweight, (although he was just out a month prior for her annual spring shots) so being that I just had her teeth floated, I up'ed her grain and added corn meal to "fatten" her up...she is on the lean side in confirmation and is very narrow in the shoulders and her topline is non-exsistant from two years ago....I'm trying with soymeal and ground cornmeal.....but ya gotta at least try.....
That is so sad. Wish I knew what to tell you, never been in that situation before. Hopefully it ends up well for the horses.
Photos. Lots and lots of photos. Multiple times.
Take pictures!!!
As a few previous commenters stated, take photos.
The real challenge is the attitude and willingness of Animal Control to deal with the problem. Down here in Pierce County, they tend to be hampered by there own regulations. If there is hay on the property, regardless of quality, or whether the its actually being fed to the animals, there is little they seem to be able to do. More than a little frustrating.
Oh, Gawd... why, oh why, must people be such SFIs??? (Stupid F'in Idiots) I see this sort of crap here in MO and in KY, when we visit the inlaws. A large number of horses standing around in a weeny enclosure (often made of barbed wire), on rocky grassless ground, with nothing to eat except a crappy looking round bale. Yeah, boy, THAT'S a life for a horse. WTF are they thinking!!! And then I go, where the heck do they even go to ride? What's the point? Why do they EVEN HAVE HORSES????
*rant over*
I hope you get some help from A/C. My guess is they've been told about this place before (that's what happened when I called about a wretched establishment here), and "can't do anything because there is food." CALL ANYWAY. The more complaints they get in the file, the better cause for action they'll if they eventually decide to do something.
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