Sling brought in to help horse found frozen to ground WARNING: GRAPHIC IMAGES

[magical thyme]

I first saw the story on weather.com yesterday. Some vile despicable piece of human shit in Utah left an appy mare and her 18 month foal to starve. On January 2, a neighbor saw the mare in distress and called animal control. When they investigated, they found the filly literally frozen to the ground and her mother trying to help her. She has most likely lost vision in the eye that was partially frozen in the ground. She is still too weak to rise and can only stand on her own for a few minutes at a time. They were both ranked 1 on the weight "assessment," where 5 is normal and 1 is totally emaciated and brink of death. The filly weighed only 350 pounds when they took her in; at her size and age she should have weighed 700-800 pounds. The vet found gravel in her gut (most likely in poop exam) so they are feeding her psyllium to try to clean it out. She was initially given a 20% chance of survival. That was recently upgraded to an 80% chance.





In her sling, you can see where her skin was damaged from being frozen to the ground. They had to pry her free and carry her out of there.


While the volunteers take turns staying with her, the resident dog has stayed by her side since she arrived at the rescue.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Dust-Devil-Ranch-Sanctuary-for-Horses/339164949499108

Volunteers have nursed her in around the clock shifts since taking her in. They roll her over and hold her up to eat every couple of hours. They've been using a makeshift sling to get her on her feet since she can only stand for a few minutes at a time (she can't lift herself up yet, so they have to pick her up; she isn't able to last much longer than that, but horses cannot stay laying down for extended periods of time or they will die. Now she has the real sling, so that will help them. She was initially given a 20% chance of survival. That was recently upgraded to an 80% chance, thanks to the incredible care the rescue has provided.


http://fox13now.com/2014/01/10/sling-brought-from-colorado-to-help-elsa-the-horse-stand/

http://fox13now.com/2014/01/10/sling-brought-from-colorado-to-help-elsa-the-horse-stand/#ooid=BkYjd1ajpGGijmtqqznBj6Xc_AiZZuFs

[TransitJohn]

1. Poor people in the West mistreat horses and other animals all the time.

You see it in the news several times a year in my home state of Wyoming, and similar states. I don't get it. Their responses are invariably along the lines of, "it's just an animal, what's the big deal? It's not human."

[Egalitarian Thug]

2. The rich are even worse, everywhere but out here, too. I give no slack at all

to anybody that does these kinds of things, if it were up to me, they'd be subjected to the same cruelty they inflicted, but the rich are worse. Worse because while they also abandon, abuse, and neglect their animals, they do it with purpose and on a scale the poor never could.

[enlightenment]

3. This kind of neglect needs to be a felony,

not a misdemeanor - at the very least, the owner should be given a lifetime ban on keeping animals.

I hope she survives and they find a good home for her and for her dam.

[Triana]

8. I agree. All animal abuse and neglect everywhere should be a felony

should be Federal law.

[flvegan]

10. Nope, misdemeanor here.

However, and I agree with you, a lifetime ban on animal caretaking can be entertained by the court and should be entered in any judgment of guilt and sentence.

I also hope that the folks that have stepped in to assist have the lawful ability to lien the crim's real property and recoup expenses at forced sale.

[enlightenment]

11. That will work.

A misdemeanor - but if they won't serve jail time than there has to be serious penalty. A small fine and a slap on the wrist is insufficient.

[SamKnause]

4. Horses

I hope they both make a full recovery.

As a former horse owner (continuing horse lover), I find it very odd that the rescuers pried the filly lose.

I didn't see any mention of trying a heated blanket (electric blanket), heating pads, warm water, or non toxic antifreeze before prying the filly lose.

Maybe availability of said items, or time was the issue.

[magical thyme]

5. I suspect time and immediate availability was an issue

The first article I had read said she was within a couple hours of death when found. The odds were probably high that if they left her to go get more equipment, she would have died by the time they returned.

[SamKnause]

6. Reply

Thank you for your input.

[Tuesday Afternoon]

7. oh.my.god.

[dionysus]

9. dear god. poor horseh. glad to hear they'll make it.

[TexasBushwhacker]

12. Sad news - the filly died today

They named her Elsa. Her mother, named Anna, is doing well though.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Dust-Devil-Ranch-Sanctuary-for-Horses/339164949499108

[one_voice]

13. Tears...

that poor horse.

My grandparents had horses when I was growing up. They're majestic animals. So gorgeous...

To do this to any animal deserves a harsh sentence not the silly slap on the wrist sentences given.

This is why I like my dogs & cat more than most people.

[TexasBushwhacker]

14. At least she died with a full tummy, surrounded by love. n/t

[cry baby]

15. So sad. nt

[KittyWampus]

16. Heartbreaking.

[magical thyme]

17. damn. damndamndamndamndamn.

As others have written, at least she knew love and a full belly in her final weeks. I have had recurring images of her not making it, from the prolapse on. I had hoped the new, better-sized sling would help her stand longer and get stronger.

There was so much for her to overcome, though...