Veterinarian frees chained horse and gets the best ‘thank you’ ever

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In Romania, it is a common practice to chain the front legs of horses to keep them from roaming and running away. On this particular day however, veterinarian Ovidiu Rosu intervened when he found the wild horse in desperate need of some help. Just the thought of the young mare suffering as the chains dug deeper into her tender flesh was unbearable to the Four Paws Romania animal welfare charity volunteer.

Rosu sedated the horse and then began his work cutting through the chains. When finally he was able to free her and help her recover from the sedation, the horse showed her gratitude in a way no one would ever have suspected – she gingerly approached her rescuer and gave him a delicate kiss.

According to Four Paws International, the mare has been clipped and marked so she can be identified in the future should she ever become chained again.

“Should we find her in chains again we will take steps to find and report the owner to the authorities,” state the spokesperson from the organization. “We may also take steps to train the owner about the proper way to treat and look after horses, depending on their willingness to cooperate. Unfortunately practices like this have been in place for many years across many countries, not just Romania.”

(Photos and video of wild horse saved and saying “thank you” via screenshots of YouTube video Four Paws International)

Check out how a horse says “thank you.”

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Horses forced to pull 7700 pounds of weight in Spanish cart-pulling contest

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In a bizarre cart-pulling contest competition forcing horses attached to carts overcome obstacles while pulling heavy weights, the Animalist Party Against Mistreatment to Animals (in Spanish : PACMA), shared a shocking video on its website. The disturbing scenes show horses tethered to carts and pulling up to 7,700 pounds of heavy weights through soft sand in Valencia during a contest called “Pull and Drag.” (Tiro y Arrastre)

According to the Daily Mail, the “keepers” are shown punching the animals in the face, stomach and testicles while simultaneously kicking them to cover the race course faster. The horses can be seen in obvious distress and try to react to their abusers, but are unable to defend themselves from the heartless treatment – all in the name of “sport.”

Complaints have been filed with the government in Valencia for the old tradition still existing in modern times, although PACMA state these competitions that began in the 1940s, have nothing to do with Spanish traditions. Unfortunately the advocacy group says these competitions are all too commonplace,  and the government has done little to respond to the overt animal cruelty complaints.

The competitions are held on a regular basis with big prize purses awarded to the winners. PACMA is calling for an end to the races under the European law relating to animal cruelty and the use of animals in shows. The Valencian Federation says it has strict rules as to animal treatment and would take action against cruelty. You can judge for yourself if you think this is a cruel “sport” and should be stopped.

(Photos and videos of cart-pulling contests via Facebook and screenshots PACMA)

 

 

 

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Disturbing video:

 

 

Whoa! Senate committee says ‘neigh’ to reopening horse slaughter plants in U.S

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The United States Appropriations Committee voted in favor of an amendment to ban any horse slaughter plants from opening in the United States on Thursday. In a news release from the Humane Society of the United States, Senators Tom Udall, (D-NM) and Lindsey Graham, (R-S.C.) led the bipartisan effort along with committee members Senators Christopher Coons, (D-Del), Susan Collins, (R-Maine), Diane Feinstein, (D-Calif.), Jack Reid, (D-R.I.) and Jeanne Shaheen, (D-N.H.) cosponsoring the amendment as gaining strength in the anti-slaughter campaign.

Last week, the House committee voted to reopen horse slaughter plants in the United States. The Appropriations Committee of the U.S. House of Representatives voted 27 to 25 members who support the anti-slaughter bill. All but one Democrat on the committee voted to oppose the amendment to ban horse slaughter while 26 of 30 Republicans favored it. The vote came as the panel approved a Department of Agriculture funding bill. The House and Senate committees are now in disagreement, and key lawmakers will have to settle this item among others is dispute.

“Unimaginable because American horses deserve a better fate than to be gathered up by a disreputable ‘kill buyer’ who outbids a rescuer at an auction, loaded onto an overcrowded truck, and then stunned, hoisted up by one leg, and pulled apart piece by piece – which is exactly  what the 27 lawmakers who voted against the Roybal-Allard/Dent amendment are trying to sanction,” wrote Wayner Pacelle, President and CEO of The Humane Society of the United States.

Horse slaughter has been banned for more than a decade. The ban is enforced by blocking the Department of Agriculture from paying for inspectors at horse meat plants that slaughter horses and is in place through September 30.

Pacelle states the negotiations in today’s vote in the Senate signifies the country’s feelings against horse slaughter for human consumption. According to U.S. Senator Tom Udall, Americans find the thought of horse slaughter for their meat repulsive, stating,

“…there is no reason the federal government should contribute in an way. This amendment is a strong step forward, and I will keep fighting to prohibit horse slaughter in the United States.”

The slaughter of American horses continues to disgust most people. Horses not only serve as pets and companions, they have also served in the development and building of the West, heroes in war and still serve in police and other national and federal positions. As to the few people who want to benefit by slaughtering horses, investing is such an endeavor is little different than opening a restaurant which sells dog meat. Whereas there are homeless horses – much as there are homeless dogs and cats yet we don’t mix our dogs into the meat stew. It again becomes a moral responsibility for horse owners to care for their horses  and promote proper breeding as well as adequate rescue and retirement.

Animal advocates must continue the fight.

(Photo of Dakota by Liz Lamont)

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Men spot gear floating in the water and discover that a baby is trapped inside! Read the story here.

Looking for a grown-up summer slushie? Look no further – recipe here!

Kentucky man kills his horse with an axe for jumping the fence

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In a disturbing act of animal cruelty, a Wolfe County man has been accused of killing his horse with an axe. Authorities arrested Carl Miller after he admitted that he had become angry at his horse for damaging the fence when the horse would jump over it to graze in the neighbor’s yard.

According to WkytNews, Miller, 72, struck the miniature horse in the head with an axe because he didn’t have a gun. His daughter, Starr Campbell stated she wasn’t really defending her father for the terrible act, but tried to explain that was the way his generation handled animals they no longer found useful or wanted. The horse had been a gift for his grandson.

“I see both sides,” Campbell said. “I don’t condone what he did. I don’t like what he did. But he’s from that generation where that’s what they did when they didn’t see anything fit, they got rid of it.”

Miller now faces second degree animal cruelty charges. His court date is set for August 19.

(Photos of Miller and the fencing the miniature horse ruined via screenshots from WktyNews)

 

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Puppy Island – yes, it’s real and you can even visit! Read more about this special paradise here.

An adorable conversation between baby and a dog – watch the heartwarming video here.

Woman arrested for striking police horse with pole and nail attached

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In Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, a woman faces charges for striking a police horse with a flag pole with a nail attached during a demonstration on Saturday morning. Lisa Simon, 23, faces aggravated assault, illegally taunting a police animal, prohibited offensive weapons, disorderly conduct, resisting arrest and obstruction of administrative law.

According to Penn Live,  the incident unfolded on Saturday morning at the Pennsylvania State Capitol Complex in Harrisburg during a demonstration of “March Against Sharia.” The protest had been scheduled to take place in other cities including New York and Dallas. During the rally, Pennsylvania State Police Troopers Mounted Patrol and the Harrisburg Police helped with crowd control. As a State Trooper and his equine partner, Sampson, moved among the crowd, Simon attacked the horse – hitting him in the side of the neck. Sampson suffered minor injuries, but was able to return to work.

Simon is reported to have resisted arrest. She was moved to the Dauphin County prison in lieu of $100,000 bail; her preliminary hearing is scheduled for July 6. As of Monday night, Simon was still in custody.

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(Submitted photo of woman arrested for striking police horse)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Read the disturbing story of a Queen’s woman throwing her German shepherd out of the car and the dog trying to get back in.

Charleston carriage horse Big John ‘stumbled and fell’

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On Wednesday, a Charleston, South Carolina carriage horse turned a corner onto Meeting Street and fell to the pavement as he was pulling a carriage with passengers. The official report from the City of Charleston’s Department of Livability and Tourism, says the horse “stumbled and fell” to the pavement.

“At approximately 323 Meeting Street the horse stumbled and fell to the pavement. A large strap from the harness was used to lift the horse so it could get its rear legs under its body and Big John stood up on all fours,” the report read.

According to Live5News, the report detailed how the Charleston Carriage Works driver called the company’s barn for help while passengers were safely escorted off of the carriage. Big John had fallen on his right side, and barn hands helped to release him from his harness and tack equipment. Carriage horses are trained to stay still until they are safely able to rise so as not to get entangled in the equipment.

Firefighters from the nearby Meeting Street Fire Station also helped lift the horse to free it from the entanglement, at which point the horse sat up on its rump. The entire incident lasted 11 minutes and the horse was walked back to the barn; high school students pushed the carriage back. It has been confirmed it was the horse’s first tour of the day.

“He wasn’t tired, didn’t collapse, wasn’t hot – simply tripped, which happens from time to time (to all of us),” Broderick Christoff, the company spokesperson reported.

The horse was examined by the vet and cleared to return to work although he did suffer some minor abrasions on his rear left hock and right front elbow which were both treated. A subsequent report stated the horse was given a “trot” test recorded on video, and he showed no signs of lameness.

Animal rights activists have continued to question what happened, with one woman stating had Big John just tripped, he would have immediately risen, but in this case she claimed he was down for a half-hour. Charleston has recently passed  new horse carriage heat rules requiring carriage horses be removed from service if temperatures exceed 95 degrees. On Wednesday, the temperatures were in the 80s.

On Facebook, the Charleston Animal Society posted a witness’ video documenting the horse’s ordeal.

 “It is time for an independent, scientific, peer-reviewed study to determine if Big John and other horses are truly working in a safe and humane environment. Charleston Animal Society, Pet Helpers and several other local and national animal welfare organizations want to see a study conducted.”

The video can be viewed here:

Wild horse attacked an alligator at Paynes Prairie

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It was an amazing sight as a woman stood in awe early Wednesday afternoon, as a wild horse attacked an alligator at Paynes Prairie State Park located near Gainesville, Florida. On the Facebook page of Krystal M. Berry, she stated she was “still shaking” after witnessing the horse attack the gator.

“Holy moly!….Only in Florida!That’s a cracker horse. They are the original descendants from the horses left here from the Spanish conquistadors. They know how to take care of themselves they have been running wild all these years. Amazing isn’t it,” stated viewer, Suzanne Macdonald, as she watched the video.

Krystal and her friends, the “ATEAM” just graduated from nursing school in Ocala and all went to the park to celebrate. So who won? It’s clear the gator didn’t stand a chance. That Florida cracker horse kicked the reptile’s tail – no doubt. Although the video clip is quite short, it starts with the horses peacefully grazing in the tall grasses of a nearby field, when one of the horses trots out to the alligator – who frankly was just lying peacefully in the clearing. Watch how the horse approaches – kicks out and the gator tries to bite back. The gator may have clipped the horse, but the stallion didn’t appear to be limping.  He seemed to have lifted his leg just in time and then returned to his herd. The alligator decided there was nothing to watch here – and sauntered away.

(Wild horse attacked an alligator photos and video via Krystal M. Berry Facebook)

Check out the video. It is quickly going viral.

 

Neglected Shetland pony’s hooves not trimmed for 10 years

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A neglected Shetland pony’s hooves had not been trimmed for 10 years. Hidden away in a shed where no one could see him, after a decade of neglect, he could barely walk. When rescued by the Animaux en Péril, the starving pony weighed 150 pounds; a healthy pony should weigh 450 pounds. Both the pony and a malnourished horse had been living in a makeshift tiny shelter where they stood on a two-foot heap of manure for the past few months. The pony’s hooves were so long they curled around at 540 degrees – rescuers had never encountered neglect like this in the past.

Animaux en Peril (Animals in Danger) operating in Belgium, took custody of the two animals when their owner decided to surrender them. Dubbed Poly and Everest, rescuers were shocked when  they first saw the animals and the horrible conditions they had been forced to live. On the organization’s Facebook page, advocates gasped at the photos of the pony on his arrival:

“We’ve seen our lot of neglected and overgrown hooves, sometimes with rotations of 180°, but the 540° (one and a half turns) spiral that we saw here was a shocking first in our 24 year career.”
As well as the deformed hooves,  bothPoly and Everest had been covered with lice and each registered a body index of a “1” out of “5.” Staff immediately trimmed and repaired Poly’s hooves, shampooed the duo and sheared them to get rid of any lice. Both welcomed the warm coats they were able to wear and their recovery has been remarkable, although “after” photos show Poly’s joints have been severely affected by the long-term negligence. Follow their rehabilitation on the organization’s Facebook.
Donations to help more animals like Poly and Everest can be made here. 
(Photos of pony’s hooves not trimmed for 10 years courtesy of Facebook’s Animaux en Peril)
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Ohio man accused of cutting off his horse’s leg

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The Morrow County Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s help finding a Fredericktown, Ohio man accused of cutting off one of his horse’s legs. According to Local12News, authorities are searching for Mark Hill, and although what happened at the farm continues to be under investigation, Sheriff John Hinton states one of Hill’s horses recently broke a leg. Instead of ordering a barn call for a veterinarian to come out to his farm to examine the horse, Hill has been accused of using a saw to amputate the horse’s leg.

A warrant for Hill’s arrest has been issued – citing a second degree misdemeanor charge for animal cruelty. Horses are not considered companion animals in Ohio and are labeled livestock. If found guilty, Hill could face a maximum of six-months in jail.

The Morrow County Humane Society were called out and humanely euthanized the horse. Anyone with information is asked to  call the Morrow County Sheriff’s Office at 419-946-4444. For updated information, follow the organization on their Facebook page.

(Photo of man accused of cutting off horse’s leg courtesy of Morrow County Sheriff’s Office)

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Read about a dog sacrificing his own life to save guests at a wedding.

 

 

Panic rescue of horse that fell six feet into underground vault

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The City of Riverside Fire Department responded to a report of a rider fallen from a horse on Sunday at the 5600 block of Arlington Avenue. The saddled horse fell about six feet into an underground vault. According to the organization’s Facebook page, when the first fire unit arrived on scene, they requested further assistance from the City of Riverside’s Heavy Animal Rescue Team (HART), which includes experienced personnel from the Riverside Police Department’s mounted unit.

Rescuers placed thick straps around the horse, and and as they waited for a crane to lift him out, the horse panicked and tried kicking his way out of the vault. Once sedated by a veterinarian, rescuers were carefully able to help him up to safety as firefighters and the horse’s owner encouraged him to climb out of the hole. The horse’s successful rescue efforts were described:

“A crane was requested to assist rescue personnel with extricating the horse once it was sedated by the Veterinarian. While firefighters were preparing the horse for extrication from the vault, the animal made several unsuccessful attempts to get out of the hole. Finally, the horse was able to climb out of the hole with assistance from firefighters and the animals owner.”

The horse’s injuries were assessed by the vet before it was released to its owner. The owner brought in a horse trailer to transport the animal to a personal veterinarian for further evaluation. This was one lucky horse – he only suffered lacerations on his legs that are expected to heal. The vault where he fell in had been covered by a metal grate and it appears it collapsed under the weight of the horse that was being walked on the sidewalk with another horse.

A temporary cover has since been placed over the open vault.

Pictures courtesy of City of Riverside Fire Department retired Captain Bob Markin. Video courtesy of Brandy Carlos

 

Check out the video: