Rescue from a nightmare “rescue farm”…and it’s Friday people! September 17, 2010

This horse weighed 900 pounds in July, now down to 700..

Ok, this is a story you must see tonight on 11 News at Five….about horses that were given to a “horse rescue”  place in West Virginia….because the owners couldn’t care for them anymore, but here’s the catch. The woman who runs the “rescue” place….puts these horses out to pasture with no feed and no water. They were slowly dying from hunger and dehydration. What a terrible cruelty…and worse because the place accepted healthy animals and starved them. Who would do such a thing? Collect money to care for animals and then deny them any sustenance? 

This vet said, "He's just bones covered by skin."

Luckily an investigation led to their true rescue…those in worst shape were taken to Day’s End Farm (here’s a link)in Howard County…where the horses are being rehydrated and fed, and hopefully, brought back to health.  As the vet in the story said about these horses…”They’re just bones covered by skin“.  Even these people at Days End who are used to seeing malnourished and abused animals, were shocked. 

Worker at Day's End Farm....

Honestly, it just makes me very very sad…and then very very mad. There’s just no excuse at all…I hope you’ll watch Rob Roblin’s story at five. Rob asked me  if we should warn viewers that the video might be disturbing….I told him people should be disturbed. That if you can see something like that and NOT be disturbed something is wrong with you.  So if you’re disturbed tonight, you can blame me.  Here’s a link for more details about Rob’s story…

OK, enough about that,,,happy thoughts, happy thoughts…it’s Friday people!! Friday after a somewhat stressful week. I’m gonna have dinner with my sweet daughter tonight(135% Wine Bar in Hampden), and Auburn plays Clemson Saturday night…hollah!! We’re doing bison burgers with a choice of toppings(tba toppings)…sweet potato fries and a black bean salad. And, something for dessert(hello, Sugarbakers?)…so all is well. Hope all of you have a great weekend…play nice, don’t throw rocks, and come home safe(that all takes on special significance to me after this week)…’cause we miss you.

Doggie Rescue….. June 8, 2009

Don't leave me here!!

This weekend I was  buying some plants(flowers and tomatoes-there have been complaints from the family unit that we never grow tomatoes anymore) for a garden that has been dug up…all the weeds and crap pulled out….and it’s been looking at me f or a week, a naked area stripped bare, waiting for planting.  Hit  Home Depot, then Lowe‘s, and when I hopped from the car at Lowe’s….I heard a dog barking in a car. It was noon…sunny, and while not a hot, hot day….as you know in a car on a warm day, the inside temps can get scorching in no time.

I found the truck….a green Ford over at the side of the parking lot, with a brown pit bull(?not good on dog breeds but I think that’s what it was)…he was trying to stick his snout through the window crack  for air…a tiny bit of foam on his chin. Not good. I looked around, no one there. I thought, “OK, maybe they will be only a few minutes and right back out, but if they’re not back when I’m finished, I’m doing something.”

So I get a few plants…and am out maybe 30 minutes later….the dog is still there, not barking just sitting with his tongue hanging out. I march back to the store(having left my cell phone at home darn it), and asked to see the manager….gave the girl the location of the truck and the description and tag number and told her the manager better page that person or I was calling the police. Another woman in line said, “Are you talking about that dog in the truck? I couldn’t believe someone left him in there, and thought about calling the police.”

We both went back out to the truck, and waited for about 5 minutes, and then decided enough was enough, and called the cops. Gave the trucks info, location, etc., and waited more….trying to give the dog some water through the window crack…he was having none of it. A few minutes later, a guy comes out of the store headed for us….the lady with me, demands, “Are you the owner of this truck?”  He answers that he is indeed. I say, “It’s not cool leaving a dog in here in the heat…and it’s dangerous…he could die!” the guy…”I’ve only been in there for about 10 minutes…”. The lady:” #*%##* you have…I’ve been here 45  minutes!” “Same for me buddy”,  say I. So he gets in his truck, and slams   the  door as he adds, “Thanks for sharing!” (t least he didn’t assault us, verbally or physically.)

You’re welcome my friend, you’re welcome. The lady and I go our ways(and yes she does call the police and cancel the call…no wasted manpower)….all’s well that ends well…but please don’t leave your pet in a car in the sun with the windows cracked. It’s plain cruel, and you could lose you pet. Here’s a link to an online debate about leaving pets in the car…is it ever ok? Some interesting opinions. Most say, why not just leave the pet at home, where it’s safe and happy? Oh, and it’s illegal to leave your pet in a car unattended in California.