Good eatin'.
Posted on 01/31/2008 2:23:17 PM PST by mdittmar
ZIMMERMAN, Minn., Jan. 31 (UPI) -- The operator of a horse-rescue organization in Minnesota said the number of neglected horses needing care has gone up dramatically as the economy slows.
Drew Fitzpatrick is now caring for 90 horses at the Minnesota Hooved Animal Rescue Foundation in Zimmerman. She told the St. Paul Pioneer-Press Thursday the economic downturn has been tough on horses bought when times were good.
Wade Hanson of the Humane Society said calls about neglected horses are running at 15 a month, while about 15 horses are dying needlessly a year. Both neglect cases and deaths have quadrupled, the report said. Hanson said many newly rich people bought spreads in the country and added horses without knowing much about them. "They thought they were going to be ranchers," he said.
"They are so clueless. I have talked to people who didn't think horses needed water in the wintertime, because they would just eat snow."
Some of the horse owners put stallions and mares in the same field, not realizing that would lead to more horses.
Good eatin'.
LMAO! Economy sours-women, children and horses hardest hit...
I was told long ago, don’t have a hobby that has to eat.
I like horses a lot (probably because I’ve never been bit or kicked). Can’t I care without seeing them as equals to people?
It’s not a hobby, it’s a tax farm.
And it’s a shame that Illinois is trying to shut down the last horse processing center in the U.S.
Isn’t this good news for dog owners?
Sounds like generally sage advice.
Yikes!! What an awful picture.
Horsey
They think horses suffer? Just wait and see what happens to marriages.
And the murder rate!
Why does George Bush hate horses?
I'd love to get this mustang, but where would I put it?
"We aren't all suffering"
Absolute tripe. I know a guy who runs a horse ranch. The reason that people are abandoning them is a direct result of a recently passed bill that prohibits the slaughter of horses for meat in the United States. Formerly when a horse outlived it's usefulness you could sell it for slaughter where the meat would be sent overseas or possibly used domestically. This meant that horse breeders could get a certain amount of income from selling their horses for slaughter when they had no other use.
The ranchers now have a little way to recoup the cost of upkeep for horses that aren't worth anything otherwise. That means they're either forced to keep pouring money into maintaining horses, ship them for slaughter to Canada or Mexico where it's legal but where shipping costs almost outweigh profit or abandon them.
These abandoned horses are a direct result of congressional action.
Female, gay and illegal horses hurt the worse!
Wish I was a little closer to your area. I’m particularly interested in the brush hogs that are for sale. The 13 footer must be a real dandy, mucho bacon for sure!
Well, it’s like I tell most libs (which causes them to grit their teeth) Prosperity is the key to our problems.
Prosperous nations can afford to take care of animals, the environment, the disabled, the old folk. Whack away at prosperity, you end up actually wrecking your efforts to take care of the less fortunate.
I’m convinced the libs do it purposely. Wreck the economy by interfering and taxing “to help the children”, and suddenly everything is worse and everyone needs more help. Then the government gallops to the rescue.
Mares and foals hardest hit.
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