CASCILLA — In Defense of Animals, the international animal protection organization that runs the Justice for Animals Campaign in Mississippi, joined forces with Mississippi Horses, a nonprofit horse rescue located in Jackson, for the seizure of four neglected horses on a Cascilla property on Smith Road.
In Defense of Animals/Justice for Animals Campaign (IDA/JAC) was contacted regarding the four horses because concerned people who passed the property could see that the horses were in a state of neglect.
IDA/JAC works with law enforcement with guidance on animal cruelty laws, and pushing for more humane ordinances and statutes as well as teaming with humane organizations who can aid with rescue and placement of neglected and intentionally harmed animals.
IDA/JAC’s director and Tallahatchie County Deputy Albert Griffin met with the property owner and determined that the horses — two stallions, a mare and her colt, belonging to a relative of the property owner — were in a state of neglect.
The horses had acreage to roam on, but even the clearings had no grass to support the horses and there were no hay provisions. The naturally shallow pond on the property didn’t contain potable water and one of the horses had been attacked by a fifth horse stalled on the property.
The badly injured horse, a stallion who apparently stuck his head in an opening in the stall of the well-cared-for horse to try for food, had been severely bitten. One side of the horse’s head and his neck were scraped in his struggle to free himself when the stalled stallion attacked him, leaving a bite wound that left an exposed section of bone on his face. The horse had not received medical attention.
A seizure order under Mississippi State Statute 97-41-2 was granted to the Tallahatchie County Sheriff’s Department for the seizure of the four horses on July 14 and was enforced that afternoon.
When seized, Mississippi Horses immediately transported the injured horse to Mississippi State University Veterinary School and the three other horses were taken to one of their facilities for rehabilitation and placement.
“In many cases of unintentional neglect, often in ignorance, we give guidance to the animals’ guardians and monitor the recovery or check on the animals’ improved environment,” said IDA/JAC Director Doll Stanley. “In this case, this wasn’t an option. Failure to provide the basic sustenance for horses and direly needed medical care, not even reaching out for help, is inexcusable.”
In Defense of Animals’ Hope Animal Sanctuary, 11 miles south of Grenada, rescues and cares for animals, often from cruelty cases. At this time, Hope Animal Sanctuary is full and a renovation project is underway to replace the sanctuary’s 20-year-old facilities with buildings, fencing and amenities to facilitate an improved environment for the animals and staff.
TO VIEW PHOTOS and video, courtesy of In Defense of Animals, visit http://bit.ly/TallaHorseRescue . WARNING: Some photos may be disturbing.
