In March 2018, Central California Humane Officers responded to an animal cruelty complaint at a home in Fresno, CA. Upon arrival, Officers found three horses: a stallion, a mare, and young foal (whose mother was the mare), which were not receiving the basic care they needed. All horses had hooves that were overgrown, the mare was severely emaciated, and the young foal was crippled and lethargic. Though none of them were dying, they were suffering greatly.
The current tenants on the property did not own the horses, as they belonged to the landlord/property owner. CCSPCA Humane Officers tried to make contact with the owner, but he refused to comply. An intent to seize all three horses was left on the property.
When our Humane Officers visited a few days later to seize the animals, the mare was hogtied and lying on the ground. Once they were able to untie the horse, all three animals were brought back to the CCSPCA to be medically assessed by a local veterinarian.
Because the young and crippled foal endured much neglect in vitro, he was not given the chance to properly develop and was living with intense chronic pain. After months in our care, we made the difficult choice to humanely euthanize him. Had he been born from a healthy mother, the outcome would have been much different.
Upon visual and physical examination, the veterinarian had no reason to believe the mare was pregnant. Her emaciated condition did not resemble one of a healthy, pregnant mare. However as the weeks passed, she wasn’t gaining weight even though she was being fed daily. A recent sonogram revealed that the mare was, in fact, pregnant and is due any day now. Once the foal is born, we hope to provide it with proper care so that it can live a long and fulfilling life.
The care, testing, and treatments for these horses would not be possible without the public’s support and donations. If you would like to help with the care of these horses and animals in our custody, please consider donating to our Wellness Fund. To make a donation, please call (559) 233-7722 ext. 110 or visit http://weblink.donorperfect.com/CCSPCAWellnessFund. For more information about the Wellness Fund, visit https://ccspca.com/wellness-fund-donations-of-medical-assistance/.