Brought to you by WBIW News and Network Indiana
Last updated on Friday, August 8, 2014
(EVANSVILLE) - A local horse rescue is working feverishly to save two horses after finding them near death.
The organization says these kinds of things are more common than you might think across the Tri-State.
A Hoof and A Prayer Horse Rescue says they found 7-year-old Scarlet and 15-year-old Whisper on a small, bare dirt lot in Posey County. They had no food and were only about 10 feet away from the busy road, but thankfully, the rescue took them in.
They're now doing their best to get the pair back to good health, but they say Whisper is one of the skinniest horses they've ever taken in. At this point, they think her chances of survival are 50-50.
The owner of the rescue says they're getting calls like this one about five times a week. She says not one person in more than 300 horse abuse or neglect situations has been convicted. She believes the problem goes back to people not knowing much about the animals.
"Typically when we go out on a call, and the people let us go on their property, a lot of times it was lack of their knowledge. They didn't know how much to feed it, what to do, but the majority of it, 80 percent of it, they did not care," Elenor Baumgart, rescue owner, says. "We've picked up horses that have eaten bark off the trees, that had nothing, that law enforcement was there, and they've seen horses that might be 100 pounds heavier than her, and they say 'well, that's skinny?' They just, they don't know."
The rescue says they'll take in almost any horse that needs help and will try to save them no matter what.
Baumgart says if you see a horse that appears to be in bad shape, the first thing you should do is call your local animal control. She says after that, if you feel that you need more assistance, call your local law enforcement or call A Hoof and A Prayer Horse Rescue at (812) 215-0834.
If you want to donate to the rescue or volunteer, you can also contact them by visiting their Facebook page.
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