[StormChaser]

Hey guys, I really need your help. A friend of mine came into work this morning and told me that some of his family in Western Kansas have 5 horses that have apparently been abandoned by their neighbors that moved away.

His family was asked by the neighbors to look over these 5 horses until they could come back to get them in a few weeks. Well, I guess these few weeks have been well over 6 months now (he's going to find out exactly how long it has been). They can't find these people and they haven't tried to call to check on the horses. The feeding/care expenses are getting too much for them and are wanting to know what their options are. They don't really want to turn them in as abandoned because they're afraid of what might happen to them.

What do you recommend they should do with these horses? Is there any way they could take ownership? They would like to sell them just to get some of the feed money back and also be able to make sure they have good homes and not end up as meat. Do any of you know what the laws are on this kind of thing?

I will be getting breed/age info here shortly plus some pictures. Mind you...these are NOT horse people. They just have good hearts and want to do the right thing. They know one of them is pretty well broke cuz the neighborhood kids ride her all over the place. They also know some of them aren't broke at all. I think several of them are Appaloosas.

Any help would be appreciated!!!!

[WildHorseSpirit]

Your friend needs to contact local law enforcement and hopefully they kept a tab on how much they have spent.
After 30 days I believe it is considered abandonment in MO not sure about KS.
Tell your friend to get a court order to seize the horses and they can sell them to get their money back or they can let the law enforcement call in ASPCA or the Humane Society there to come and get them.

[Blistering Winds]

they HAVE to turn them into local law enforcement as abandoned, if not, it will be considered horse theft in the future.

They MUST follow the letter of the law, and I believe in kansas, they can "recoup" the loss at local auction or possibly keep the horses themselves....

Or, they can turn them over to any rescue with the situation at hand....let the rescue have all the info they have on the people, and the rescue will do the legal steps from there.

[Blistering Winds]

because horses are considered under property laws....

Kansas State Treasurer Website - Entire Unclaimed Property Law

here is the kansas law.

course the easiest thing is to contact the local municipal court where the horses reside, and ask them what their steps are. Phone records are a must, if they have a last known addy, send certified letter, they must PROVE they have done everything and anything to find them.

[Nickori]

I agree with involving a rescue organization. They can work with the local law enforcement to help recoup some of these people's money and find them a good home.

[Blistering Winds]

do not count on ANY rescue organization to help you 'recoup' anything. but they can help take the horses over, do the legal stuff on their end to permanently "own" the horses.

Your friends, once they do, if they do, locate the owners, file a civil suit for the care and housing of those horses. Or Kansas does allow for "liens" to be placed on horses, and if they ever come to the rescue to CLAIM the horses, they would also have to settle with your friends as well.

[StormChaser]

Thank you guys for all the information. That helps a bunch and I'm forwarding it on to them. Sounds like they're leaning towards calling the local authorities to see what to do next. We did find out that they have had these horses for over 2 years now. I guess these people moved to Alaska. They sent several letters to them and their son replied once about a year ago and sent them a check for $40 and that was it...no contact since.