[meljean]

Many times we see things that we think are abuse, and all too often we know it is. This thread is to try and put together ideas so that intervening in such cases will be more effective, and hopefully change things for the better.

Please add anything you know has been effective, and any ideas you may have had to make the world a better place for our equine friends.

1. Take pictures if possible, and make sure to include water tanks/feed areas/grass/or lack of same. If winter look for whether water is heated/hose for horses/shelter/hay. If summer look for shade/water. Try to get whole body shots of horses, especially wounds.

2. Know address where animals are located. And make sure when call is made to authorities, that they get the right address. I've known instances where dispatcher got address wrong, and although there were horses there, they were well kept, so report came back as no problems. Also, find out what deputy/law enforcement went out. And check with them after the call as to what they found, and what action they are going to take.
A true story, Clarke County Democrat, from 2004/05? A deputy was called about starving horses. He did go out, saw horses starving all right, but was trying to contact owner, so kept a watch on horses for couple of weeks, and saw couple go down, and lay there and die over week's time. No help was given to horses dying. Another here in Harrison Co MO was woman who moved here from GA. Spent weeks trying to get help for starving horses in field. A couple of those died, and owner was and had been throwing carcasses over fences onto others land.

3. Know your animal people in area, not just horse owners, but dog/cat as those people will be likely to also make calls about situation you have found. The more phone calls/questions the better. Also, know your USDA and state Dept of Agriculture no's, as many times they have a stock inspector who will come and has more authority to do something than locals do.

4. Have a plan in place. Get together with fellow horse owners, and pet owners, who has a trailer/GN/BP? Who has a pasture they could put horse in? Pet owners may not be able to pasture, but might donate $$ for feed, and vet. If emergency/rescue takes place on weekend/nights, have phone numbers ready to call for help. Many times an animal could be rescued right then, but no plans in place, and animal left, which gives owner time to get mad, and decide to kill animal/move it/etc. Read the book "Horses of Proud Spirit" about a horse that because trailer wasn't available right then, the owner got angry and took horse to back of pasture and shot it, with people willing to take it but just couldn't get it out of there.

4. Are you willing to testify in court? Sign a complaint? Many times that will galvanize the law to do something.

5. Know who owns neighboring land, if applicable. I knew of case, but I could not get deputies to horses because man had made them inaccessible, and deputies would not cross his land to get to interior. Because had just stumbled on them, did not have camera to take pictures, and man had reputation of being "downright mean" and was known to sheriff's dept because he had used four wheeler to run over calf that had head butted him. Because was on interior of his land, could not get to them.

6. Check out local/state laws. Too many legislators consider animal issues "dog and pony shows." That by the way is direct quote from one of Alabama's finest, when we were picketing the Al capitol 20 years ago. Are there laws in place, are they strong, if strong are they being upheld? Call your mayor/county commisioners/representatives/senators. Get involved. You can make a difference by making your opinion heard.

7. Call the media, TV, newspapers. Get them to come see animals if you can, at least show them the pictures you have taken, and tell them the steps you have done in your attempt to get help, and the response you have gotten. Be persistent.

8. If your state does not have an Equine Cruelty inspector, ask that one be appointed. If there is one, find out what steps are being taken in abuse cases. Call them and ask what you can do to help. Keep track of abuse cases against all animals in your state, and see if judges are being too lenient. All states have a RRR board, that stands for recall/recinscion/reprimand, and it takes complaints about sitting judges, and they have the authority to remove judges from the bench.

9. Ask if your local domestic abuse shelters have provisions for animals of the people trying to escape abuse, offer to help, because many times women will not leave because the abuser will kill animals. See Oprahs magazine several months ago about just this thing. Can you foster animal for a woman trying to escape?

10. Have fundraisers/go to schools and talk about proper care of animals. Take part in your community by being vocal about animal rights. Teach the next generation while we can still reach them.

11. If it is someone elderly, find out if animal is in trouble because they can't do chores/afford feed/or what? Help if you can.

Together we can make a difference.

[nicz2cu]

Great post , thanks for bringing up these points .