Original Article: https://blog.theanimalrescuesite.greatergood.com/starved-horses-seized-from-paws-ranch/
“This has been a long time coming…”
Countless reports of animal neglect and cruelty on a property in Bostic, North Carolina, were unaddressed until a group of dedicated animal rescuers and an Animal Control officer, Kathy Hamilton, persuaded law enforcement to take action. It led to dozens of farm animals being seized.
The property known as Paws Ranch was supposed to be a horse haven for abused and neglected horses but as one rescue said it is now a “horror show”.
Nine emaciated horses were rescued from the property in November and after months of phone calls and emails the remaining animals were rescued.
On February 24, Polk County, N.C. Sheriff’s Office assisted Rutherford County and Polk County Animal Control in seizing 23 horses, 17 goats, and 1 sheep from the farm. All the animals were in desperate need of food and medical attention.
Sadly, one horse and pony had to be euthanized due to their poor condition.
A calvary of horse trailers arrived from various animal rescues to take in the neglected and abused animals and give them a second chance.
The Sanctuary at Red Bell Run has taken in five of the worst horses and is working on rehabilitating them. It will be a long and expensive process, but one that is worth it. The rescue has already spent over $2500 in blood work but is determined to do everything they can to save these poor horses.
In addition to being starved (several arrived with a body score of 1 which means life-threatening emaciation), many of the horses are suffering from rain rot. They are currently in quarantine but are being showered with love by staff and volunteers.
“This is pretty much as bad as it gets before death,” Mary Adams, founder of the sanctuary, told WLOS. “We’re going to fix it, we’re going to do it, we’re going to depend on the community of people that love equines here.”
They shared that one horse hasn’t let the neglect and abuse change her sweet demeanor. They posted a photo of the skinny horse and said, “Despite what she has been through, this sweet mare lays her head on your shoulder…”
If you’d like to help, the need is great. They need extensive care… and they deserve it. Despite what she has been…
Posted by Red Bell Run on Saturday, February 26, 2022
Hasty’s Haven in South Carolina is working closely with the Sanctuary at Red Bell Run to help care for the worst horses who are in critical condition. They wrote, “The white mare has pneumonia and the chestnut is suffering from liver issues(most likely from toxic weeds) as well as they are both suffering from long term neglect and starvation.”
Posted by Hasty’s Haven on Friday, February 25, 2022
Joann Kelly of Hasty’s Haven shared how hard this rescue was on Facebook. “We’ve been doing rescue for over 10 years and never have we seen a situation as devastating as this one and I’m not just talking about the animals. So many people placed their trust in this woman to give their horses ‘sanctuary’, so many of the horses are missing or in God awful condition.”
The woman responsible, Delores Hanser, 63, has been charged with 11 counts of animal cruelty, 1 count of improper burial, and 2 counts of specific animal care requirements, states to Polk County, N.C. Sheriff’s Office.
The abuse and neglect have been going on for years according to animal rescues and they hope justice will be served.
Allison Bowling, co-founder of Red Feather Farm Sanctuary, has been caring for some of the horses rescued in November and thanked everyone who helped save the lives of these innocent animals. “Many hands worked towards accomplishing our goal including lots of you who shared, called and pressured for action. I am so thankful to everyone who stuck it out and helped us push for justice.”
While she is glad the animals are finally getting the care they need and deserve, she can’t stop thinking about a horse named Mamie that was rescued from a kill pen and sent to Paws Ranch. However, she was nowhere to be found during the seizure.
“Something I cannot move past is the absence of Mamie during the Paws Ranch seizure. She was fundraised out of the Bastrop, LA kill pen by Morning Meadows Equine Rescue in September 2021 and sent to Delores Hanser in Bostic, NC who was just charged with 11 counts of animal cruelty. The animal seizure on Thursday yielded no trace of Mamie or her baby.”
Something I cannot move past is the absence of Mamie during the Paws Ranch seizure. She was fundraised out of the…
Posted by Allison Bowling on Saturday, February 26, 2022
Bowling pleaded for information on the mare and if anyone has seen or heard anything about her to please contact her.
This heartbreaking case proved that elected officials need to be held accountable and animals in Rutherford County need someone to be their voice, so a new animal welfare group has formed – Animal Welfare Alliance of Rutherford (AWAR).
Donations for the horses known at the “Bostic horses or Bostic9” can be sent to Rutherford County Animal Control or made online to Red Bell Run, Hasty’s Haven, or Red Feather Farm Sanctuary.
Source: The Animal Rescue Site Blog
