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Rescue a rescue?

2K views 5 replies 5 participants last post by  fancypanzy123 
#1 ·
Ok I'm sure you've seen the posts I've had on here about the very emaciated horse. I rescued him from owners that were going to shoot him for losing weight rather than pay the vet to find out why. Well I've paid for the vet, the dentist, wormings, and the special food. Then I ended up with his companion as well. Along with one other rescue and my other five horses. But after many long long discussions over the bank accounts with my husband ( who is so not animal oriented) I've decided that he's right and I can't keep it up anymore. I have to place the two newest rescues. I've gotten a friend to take the standardbred in. But that still leaves me with the worst case. Vet says he is early thirties. He has been doing better he trots around and has loads more energy. I've looked into different rescues. So far for the big accredited rescues one has a waiting list around a year, the other one wants you to pay a minimum of $300 to take him. We've talked about having him put down but I don't think he should be. I think when he finishes getting the weight back on he will make someone a fine trail horse or a great kids horse. Heck over the summer when he was still fit he was trail riding all the time. He seems great for his age. Any suggestions? Anybody wanting to take him on? I don't want to just give him a way to any yahoo on Craigslist but I need to be realistic. I can't keep putting my family's basic needs behind those of the horses. My heart still aches over this but my head says it is best. Sorry I posted this in the health section but since I've been posting alittle on his status here and seeing as he is a health case I thought it would be ok.
 
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#2 ·
I don't envy your situation at all. As heart breaking as it is, I think having him put down may best the best option for him. At 30+ years of age, moving him from owner to owner isn't going to do him any favours, particularly if he's not in great condition. You could not expect to get any money for selling him, and there are not a huge amount of people who will take in a very old horse that is in near emaciated condition. The cost to get him back to health will be significant, and chances are he won't be rideable anyway. If he has not been ridden in a long time, and he's gone through trauma of being neglected, it is not fair on him to expect him to begin work under saddle again.
As much as people may hate me for it, I really think putting him to sleep would be the kindest option.
 
#3 ·
That's a tough spot to be in. It hurts to bring one so far and feel like you're letting them down. But that isn't what you are doing at all, even if you feel that way. My old man is 29 this year, and has a lot of life left in him. You are around him enough to know if he could handle being rehomed. If he would not handle it well, and decline, you may want to consider euthing him. BUT check again with the rescues, some of them might be willing to place an ad on petfinder for you, or post him on their website, even if he isn't in their program, with some sort of disclaimer. The USERL used to have a page for just this kind of thing. Horses that were FTGH because they had to be rehomed but were not part of the rescue, but had concerned owners just looking for a good place for them to go. If I had room, and wasn't so far away, I'd try to help, but I don't think it'd be good for him to come so far at his age and in his condition. Plus the hubby would strangle me...
 
#4 ·
Fancy, where are you in PA? I'm near the Lehigh Valley, in eastern PA. I'd be happy to check around and see if there is anywhere that I know of willing to take this guy for his last years. I don't know if I'll come up with anything, but I'll try!!
 
#5 ·
It will most likely cost you more than $300 to euthanize him through the vet an get his body taken care of. If the rescue that is asking for a $300 donation is reputable and willing to take him on then I think that is your best bet. Also, where in PA are you? I'm in central PA and I can also check around for you to see if anyone is looking for a light trail riding buddy or companion. I also know of a rescue in New York that is very good and really takes a while to ensure the horse is in good shape and finding them the best home that they can. Her name is Christine Wright and her email is equineLI@yahoo.com. Feel free to email her an see if she would be willing to take him on. You would have to find a way to get him there but I guarantee he would have a good home and she could probably help you with some of the others that you need to rehome as well.
 
#6 ·
Well thank you all for all the input. I am located in South west Pa so yes if anyone could look around and let me know that would be great. He was used all this past summer as a trail horse. They thought he was only 15. But they had the amish float his teeth who had no idea what he was doing. He even told him he didnt know what he was doing before he started. So three weeks went by with the horse touching no hay and all the grain going straight through him. He wasted away to nothing in three weeks. They were going to shoot him in a week if he didn't start putting weight back on. They had no idea how badly they had messed his teeth up that the poor guy just couldn't eat. But I've gotten that all fixed. All he needs is time and money. But yes I am not ruling out the scenerio of putting him down, but it is way back there at last resort. Yes I agree also that a long trip for this guy would be too stressfull and not good on him so a relatively local area probably a hundred mile radius of somerset county pa. Thanks again to everyone for trying to help me help this old guy.
 
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