Awful Conditions

Whether the local SPCA does something or not, keep hold of these pictures.

It's amazing how quickly and willingly the local SPCAs are to get involved once the local newspaper gets a hold of things like this. I'd send those pictures to them.

I know you are still sorting out getting your new property....is the seller still currently living there? If they have already moved out, and you have a good real estate agent, sometimes you can work into the deal to get your animals moved in before closing the property by paying a few weeks "board" in advance. It's not the traditional way to do things but in this market most sellers are not sticking to traditional means. I had to move my horses onto my new property a week before I closed on the house and was able to work it out this way.

Right now we are renting the property. We can't move the horses there because I live two hours away. There is no way I'd be able to make it there everyday to take care of them. AND we are still working on the pasture, there are spots where there isn't a fence at all.

The other day I went out there and I walked my horse around the barn to take him into the arena. There was a dead cat laying on the ground (the first one pictured). Anybody who knows me knows I flip when I see dead things. So I start screaming and crying which (of course) brings the BO to see what is wrong. I lost control and started on about the conditions and how I don't like seeing the animals live like that. Just the other day I was out there and that cat was still alive. She didn't take it to the vet and it died. I went on about the dog that died. The mini had a foal and she still has it in that nasty stall. The flies were outrageous in there. I was sobbing by the time I was done. I REALLY DO NOT LIKE BEING AROUND DEAD THINGS, it's a phobia of mine. Well I put my horse back out in the pasture and left right then, without giving her a chance to say anything.

I went out there yesterday and all the stalls are stripped and clean. She told me that she was sorry that things had gotten out of hand. She's going to try and stay on top of it. I'm not saying she won't do it but she has said she is going to stuff and hasn't. So who knows.

Om my god. The poor cat. Yes, I would have lost it too. I worked at a llama farm when I was young that the owner let get out of hand, and when animals started dying, she left them where they lay. I called the SPCA and she had every animal she owned taken from her. There is nothing, to me, so despicable as not affording an animal some dignity in death - and just leaving them lay there to rot.

Well, I hope for the animals sake she keeps on top of things. From the sounds of how she makes excuses, I wouldn't count on it, but I sure hope she surprises everyone, and maybe seeing you so upset was a wake up call for her.

I don't think she actually noticed the cat.... I'm not sure.

Well, I hope things go better for you now. I guess I react strongly to the dead cat thing because I am currently at war with my ex husband about his neighbors. His neighbors have been a chronic problem since he moved into that place - they have a hastily erected fence held together with duct tape and bailing twine, with about a dozen dogs in their yard, which runs right alongside my ex's driveway, when I dropped my son off for visitation a few weeks back, a dog went right through the fence and charged my son (who is 6). I told my ex then he needed to talk to the neighbors - they also had several kittens wandering around that were with fly-bitten ears, flea and tick infested, and looked like they probably all had FIV. My ex didn't do anything, and last weekend, when I went to drop my son off, there was a dead kitten lying alongside my ex's driveway - it had obviously been tossed there, behind the woodpile. I refused to let my son out of the car, and left, called my ex on the way home and told him all visitation is suspended until he does something about his neighbors, or moves. My ex lives in a duplex with no yard, and the driveway is where he lets our son play, ride his bike, etc. I wont have him playing alongside dead, maggoty kittens, or at risk of being bitten by mismanaged, uncared for, likely disease ridden dogs. I just wont have it. Something has to be done. So your experience struck a chord with me, I'm sorry to jump to conclusions on the part of your BO.

Well I'm glad you finally got through to her, at least for the moment. Maybe a screaming fit was what she needed to hear. I would hold on to those pictures, and make sure you take more if the conditions start to get bad again. It doesn't take long for the poop to pile up.

I thought I was alone in this. I also have a huge phobia of dead animals. Especially fish.

I'd call the SPCA immediately because vet care is essential to good pet care.

Please keep us updated on your progress. Conditions like the pictures show are just sad.

Indy- I didn't take it personally. I don't give a hoot about the BO.

Jordan- I'm going to contact somebody. At least someone who will keep an eye on the situation. BUT as someone said before they usually don't do anything if the animals have food, shelter and water.

Unfortunately she moved three more horses on to the property. So there are the 6 horses in the stall, the mini and her foal in one stall, the pony in the pen and 8 horses in the 3 acre pasture. When I moved Piper there it was only her and one other horse.

hmm that's um, an improvement. But I'd still be worried.


PS: When they see how the cats are getting no vet care and that one even died, they should at least listen to some of what your saying.