Update On Mercy - Can You Help?
Just wanted to give you an update on how Mercy is doing since her rescue. Here is an update from Hutch, with additional info from WISH-TV/Channel 8
I'd also like ask on a personal note that any of you who can donate even a few dollars to help in this worth cause, please send your donations to the address at the bottom of this post.
From Hutch:
You all may have already
heard the story already about the Gibson County Horse Seizure in
Indiana just outside of Evansville, IN ~ where over 100 horses have
been seized due to neglect and starvation. Should any of you find it in your hearts to
donate $ 10 that equals 3 bales of hay or wormer for these neglected
horses. One mare was in such bad shape, that Sunday, after giving
birth to a foal, it took 8 men to get her on her feet. She's nothing
but bones and bed sores.
My husband is delivering round panel gates
tomorrow to the site so that the horses remaining on the property can
get outside. This organization of two people, Becky & Bob Shope is
a non-profit organization and all donations go directly to the horses.
I know this, since they live 2 homes down from us, they rent the
acreage and barn and they personally live in an RV. They are
wonderful, caring individuals and you can rest assure that anything you
can do, will go directly to the horses !
I know alot of people have
always wanted a horse but haven't had the space to actually have one
... here's a great opportunity to help those that are in the greatest
of need. All donations are tax deductible. Visit Hope's store to
purchase personal products for the horses. Thanks so much ! Your a
great group of individuals that I am proud to be a part of ! If you
all would happen to know of anyone else that may be interested in
helping, please forward this information to them. Every penny helps !
WISH-TV/8 report:
There is a call for help as more
malnourished horses are struggling to survive. 24-Hour News 8 went to
the one of the farms housing the horses. It's still a sad sight, but
what a difference just a few days of care can make.
One horse
has died since the rescue. Originally thought to be foal, a necropsy
showed it was actually a year old but was so malnourished it had
stopped growing.
One of the horses gave birth Wednesday. The
foal has weak legs and is probably still a bit disoriented. It faces a
few more challenges than most. It was born to a malnourished mother
struggling to feed herself, let alone a newborn.
"Devastating
you know. How else to describe it. You go in and these animals are
being withheld food and basic need," Tony Caldwell with Indiana Horse
Rescue said.
News 8 showed you more than 100 horses rescued from Richard Stallings' Gibson County farm last week.
"I just believe that he never thought that anyone would do anything based on the sheer numbers," Caldwell said.
Some
had bite marks from other horses, protruding ribs and were even
pregnant. A handful were sent to a farm in Frankfort. We went to see
the slow but progressive healing process.
"He just has all these nasty, nasty injuries," farm manager Kelsey Cook said.
Cook unwraps and wipes down wounds every day. "It was just horrible and he wasn't treating it. And it just breaks your heart."
The
farm has plenty of medication on hand for the horses, but they are
costly. They can run anywhere from $40 to $75 on up to $300.
The
cost to get these horses back to health, and for some, on their feet
for the first time won't be easy but perhaps worth the price.
"I know that when they come here I can fix them or Tony can fix them," said Cook.
People
donated $7,000 to Indiana Horse Rescue since our story first aired. It
will cost $80,000 to care for the horses over just the next six months.
If you would like to help, contact:
Indiana Horse Rescue South
6951 Highway 335 NE
P.O. Box 312
New Salisbury, IN 47161
812-366-4838
In the meantime, Richard Stallings faces several charges and has been questioned concerned the care of the horses in the past.
Mercy in the back of the RescueMobile
Mercy up and about