In the last 24 hours we rescued 71 precious animals!
In the last 24 hours we placed 54 precious animals!
The last 24 hours have been very emotionally challenging and physically exhausting. We were called to assist with a very large hoarding case with many different kinds of animals. I knew it was going to be hard, but I knew that our amazing team here at Horse Plus was capable and ready for the job. We got ready to go in what seemed like record time and made the long trip to help law enforcement with this large rescue. Reading the veterinarian’s report we learned that many of the animals had died and many had no water. We arrived as Nashville Humane Society was loading up the nearly 50 dogs from this puppy mill hoarding case.
There were multiple news stations there covering the event. We found out that there were many parrots, a couple of lizards and a couple of turtles that had nowhere to go. We went into the house to see the parrots, lizards, and turtles. There was animal feces throughout the house and you couldn’t walk in the house without stepping on it.
In some places the amount of feces that was piled up in some of the cages was unbelievable, it was absolutely horrific and the smell was overwhelming. Many of the parrots had ripped out their feathers, probably due to stress. After thinking carefully about the situation we agreed to take them, we had never had lizards surrendered to us, but we knew the little guys needed help just as much as every other animal there.
As we went into the pens to load all the miniature horses, donkeys, sheep, and cows, nearly everywhere we looked were bones of animals that it was too late for. The property was literally scattered with bones from animals who had died. There was a shed with so many dead animals it was hard to figure out how many there were in there, there were dead animals around the front yard and rotting carcasses of two sheep behind the house.
The owner had prior violations and been convicted of animal cruelty in another state. She was arrested for animal cruelty charges while we were there and taken to jail.
It was a long drive back to our shelter and we finally pulled in after 10 at night. One by one we got all the animals sorted into our large 10 stall barn from all the trailers and then put the parrots, lizards, and turtles in our climate-controlled animal rooms in our office.
It was after midnight by the time I fell asleep but everything I had seen and all the smells I had encountered kept rolling and turning in my brain. No matter how many years you do this type of rescue work, it’s something you never get used to. I have been rescuing horses and other animals for over 17 years but nothing can prepare you for the things you see at a hoarding case. I tossed and turned through the night and then stayed awake for hours finally going to sleep around 5:30 this morning and then getting out of bed at 7:30 to get the day going.
Watching all the happy animals safe and having the pleasure of food and water was exactly what I needed. I knew today was going to be an extremely busy time of trying to network animals to go to different adoption placements and talking to multiple animal welfare agencies trying to find the best places for the animals to go. 71 animals is a lot of animals to take on at one time, especially during this Corona pandemic. The veterinarian was scheduled to come out and examine all of the animals that we had rescued in the hoarding case.
I took and made phone call after phone call, “2 cows can go there” “I found a place for the lizards and turtles” “Yes! I found a place for the hairy pig” “A rescue is coming that wants to take the sheep and help with the minis and donkeys,” the Yes’s kept going on and on. So many wonderful people were also calling to find out if they could adopt or help in some way, they had seen the news station stories and were offering up what they could and that they were interested in adopting.
Our shelter veterinarian came out and checked out all of the animals, worming all of the sheep and goats and making sure that everyone was in stable condition.
After the veterinarian came and went we got extremely happy as the adoption and rescue placements started arriving to transport animals. Our facility became a transfer shelter for animals in crisis. Perry County Humane Society came for the 2 turtles and 2 lizards. They also graciously offered to transport 2 of the cows and the hairy pig to Christian Farms Rescue and Rehab. 2 parrots and 3 miniature horses were placed with one of our adoption partners. Redemption Road Rescue came out to see the parrots and the miniature horses and donkeys. Redemption Road Rescue is an organization that’s used to helping with hoarding cases and they had room at their rescue and were excited to help: 10 Miniature Donkeys, 9 Miniature Horses, 16 sheep and 7 parrots were transferred to them.
It was a fast-paced afternoon getting so many of these animals ready for transport and safely down the road, we placed 54 animals in a few hours. We would like to thank the Lincoln County Humane Society for helping network to find placement for many of the animals.
Currently, the animals remaining at our shelter from the hoarding case are 3 horses, 3 chickens, 8 geese, 1 bull and 4 goats, leaving us with a total of 17 animals from the hoarding case. Your donations are greatly appreciated and if you are interested in adopting any animal in particular, please contact us if they are still at our shelter or the organization the animals went to. Have a wonderful weekend and thank you all so much for your support!
Tawnee President of Horse Plus Humane Society
P.S.
Please continue reading below, watch Horse Shelter Heroes, and don’t forget to get you’re Kicking Covid-19 t-shirt!
What happened at Horse Plus Humane Society last? watch the latest episode of Horse Shelter heroes!
Horse Shelter Heroes – Episode 17 – April 23-29 | Donkeys were surrendered, Kicking Covid19 shirt fundraiser was launched, and a whole lot more in this latest episode of Horse Shelter Heroes. Watch it on Youtube or Facebook
Get your KICKING COVID-19 T-Shirt!
Help us feed the horses, donkeys, mules, and ponies at our shelter during this COVID-19 pandemic. The proceeds from one t-shirt will help buy a bag of feed! Do something good during this pandemic and help buy some feed for a hungry horse! Get your t-shirt now!