Horse Rescued After Being Left For Dead

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Horse Rescued After Being Left For Dead

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A Rockcastle County Couple Nursing Horse Back To Health
Posted: 11:54 PM Apr 13, 2008
Last Updated: 12:48 AM Apr 14, 2008
Reporter: Sherelle Roberts
Email Address: sherelle.roberts@wkyt.com

26 comments

A | A | A

An abandoned horse would be dead if not for some big-hearted people in Rockcastle County. Now those folks are asking for your help to get that horse healthy again.
Kim and Steve Brinson took the Horse named Destiny three weeks ago. "She was taken to a stock auction, when she didn't sell she was dumped on U.S. 25...like a piece of trash, or bag of garbage",says Brinson. Rockcastle County authorities contacted the couple who are members of the United States Equine Rescue League. Since then they have been nursing the horse back to health.
She was starving, severely infected with worms, and has a serious leg injury. The Brinsons are hoping to raise the money to nurse her back to health, get surgery for her leg and get her adopted.
But Brinson wants something more, to catch the people who left Destiny to die. "I'd like anyone who has information on her previous owners to contact the Rockcastle County Sheriff".
But Brinson says if you can't do that he'd like for folks to visit the link below for the United States Equine League. There, you can donate toward her recovery. Brinson says make sure to earmark the donation "Destiny In Kentucky".

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Comments are posted from viewers like you and do not always reflect the views of this station.

Posted by: heather Location: VERMONT on Apr 28, 2008 at 11:36 AM
I read all these coments & I agree-horse population is as bad as cat/dog overpopulation- its time as humans to take the responsibilty to stop breeding-if purebred dogs are ending up in shelters then hello? why breed more when adult horses are being left to fend for themselves? i dont agree with slaughter at all for any animal but we are not seeing groups of pigs-cattle -sheep etc being abandoned and starving are we?i have rescued 2 fillys(a pmu from canada in 04) and just adopted a TB from kentucky -but thats all I can afford to do-resources are thin- people cant afford food gas or housing -how can they help more horses? we all try to do our part but life is getting harder on every one-instead of concentrating just on anti slaughter bills, we NEED to start putting more effort into mandatory gelding stallions and not breeding mares -there is now such a thing as "spaying a mare" but vet prices will not decrease for surgerys/ euthenasia -so its up to us animal "lovers" to smarten up!!

Posted by: Laura Location: NC on Apr 22, 2008 at 12:29 PM
I have to post. I have been around horses most of my life. I know alot about them. Horse slaughter and neglect do not go hand in hand. I have been to a slaughter auction. I can recall one pony that was abandoned at the auction. He was fat but sick. He had strangles and possibly pnuemonia starting but noone would buy him. Why? Because he was sick. Also with the economy and fuel going the way it is, I bet the market has taken a plunge and horses are not selling for much. So Cindy, before you bash do your research. Go attend New Holland auction and your mind will change. Trust me. If I had a horse right now and they got sickly, and I had no money for vet care, I certainly have the money for an extra bullet. A bullet put through a horses head is alot better than the ride these poor animals have to endure to the slaughter house. No food or water for miles, cramped in a double decker hardly able to hold their heads up, yep I perfer to put a bullet in my horse rather then have them endure THAT

Posted by: Dakota24 Location: Indiana on Apr 17, 2008 at 08:41 PM
Lazy Maple appears to be a horse rescue who believes in slaughtering horses. Good to know, so I know who NOT to donate to. Besides, how nice of another rescue to come on here and try and get a donation when clearly another horse rescue and the Brinsons stepped up to help Destiny. Since someone chose to bring up homeless people...this story was about a horse, but if you feel that passionate about homeless people write to your paper then and ask them to do a story. THen also go out and spend almost $1,000 on that person (like we do on a horse). Put your money where your mouth is at. Don't judge us by thinking we only care about animals. I donate plenty to helpless children in this world as well.

Posted by: Lori Location: Illinois on Apr 16, 2008 at 11:19 AM
Cindy, please so some research before you post. Horse slaughter for human consumption is indeed still LEGAL in the US, though we no longer have any operating horse slaughter houses. It is only illegal in IL, TX and CA. You might recall that South Dakota recently tried to start up a new horse slaughter house, but the American public overwhelmingly voiced that we do not want or support that in the US. Until the Federal bills HR 503/S.311 are passed our horses will continue to be brutally transported and slaughtered to Canada and Mexico. Furthermore, horse slaughter is not a humane death, no matter where it takes place. The low price of horses is a result of the down economy and high spike in hay, grain and bedding prices. If it costs double or triple to feed the horse(s) you have, you bet people are going to think twice about buying more -- or even keeping the ones they have. Do you have some affiliation with Lazy Maple -- the rescue who had one of their loose horses shot by police?

Posted by: Cindy Location: Illinois on Apr 16, 2008 at 09:53 AM
Slaughter is not alive and well as Lori states. If it was perhaps this horse could have been sold before it was starving and lame. It is a fact the price of average horses is at an all time low. It use to be you could get $1000 for any old horse, more if it was broke and more if it was registered/valued and had a show record. Now registered horses are selling for around $100 at the sales, people are giving away horses and ponies because they can't afford to feed them. Several horse rescues have been forced to close due to rising feed costs, and the lack of donations. Don't get all emotional and point fingers crying slaughter is cruel, I would think a quick death is better then a slow and painful starvation death. Either support the reopening of slaughter houses, or DONATE to your local equine rescue and to these kind people. $300 a month/horse is a bare bones amount. Lori I challenge you to donate $300 to a local rescue.. How about Lazy Maple? Put your money where your.

Posted by: Lori Location: IL on Apr 15, 2008 at 11:38 PM
Horse slaughter is still alive & well - it has just changed locations. We're on track to slaughter as many, if not more US horses for foreign dinner tables again this year! So the 'lack' of slaughter is not an issue. The 'killer buyers' for the slaughter houses would not buy this horse: too skinny (no money to be made on skinny horses), injured (likely couldn't survive the trip) and possibly diseased (would infect the other horses). No, you can blame this one solely on an irresponsible owner. Clearly this horse was not cared for in any respect. Abandonment of a horse is a crime, as is neglect. This owner needs to be charged with both.

Posted by: J Location: Maryland on Apr 15, 2008 at 07:11 PM
Humans have choices; horses don't. Thank god for people like the Brinsons who don't turn away like so many others. (PS and slaughter is still going strong in Canada and Mexico - there is STILL slaughter - slaughter availability and neglect do NOT go hand in hand.)

Posted by: LESLIE Location: LEXINGTON on Apr 15, 2008 at 03:18 PM
WHY SLAUGHTER??? CAN'T THEY SIMPLY EUTHANIZE THE ANIMALS INSTEAD OF SENDING THEM THROUGH A TERRIBLE HORRIFIC END???? IT'S ALWAYS ABOUT MONEY....NOT DECENCY.

Posted by: LESLIE Location: LEXINGTON on Apr 15, 2008 at 03:11 PM
WHAT A DISGRACE...HORSE CAPITAL OF THE WORLD!!! I myself have had to report starving Thoroughbreds on Russell Cave Road here in Lexington. I am also contacting the Humane Society regarding starving horses on Weisenberger Mill Rd in Midway!!!!! This is becoming epidemic. Animal neglect and cruelty is everywhere in KY.... just take a look the next time you're taking a scenic drive through "the horse capital of the world"

Posted by: Anonymous on Apr 15, 2008 at 02:41 PM
I agree with Fred.....

Posted by: Anonymous Location: Ky on Apr 15, 2008 at 12:38 PM
Fred, when you see someone homeless they are usually a reason for it. They either won't work or maybe they wont't get off their family.

Posted by: Anonymous Location: Ky on Apr 15, 2008 at 12:33 PM
They should get them in the first place then they wouldn't be unwanted.

Posted by: Anonymous on Apr 15, 2008 at 11:48 AM
why don't we check these incidents also and see if the reason for death was the same as these others, NOT NEGLECT!!!!!!!

Posted by: Me! Location: To; From what Iv'e read on Apr 15, 2008 at 10:34 AM
You said it all!!!!This poor old man that had the 31 horses couldn't help how sick he was. The person who needs charges filed against them is the one hired to care for them.

Posted by: Darlene Location: Lexington on Apr 15, 2008 at 10:21 AM
I have to agree, in part, with the post on horse slaughter. Taking this viable option away can sadly be accredited to the number of starving horses we have now. But now that the slaughter option is gone, it is time for horse owners to be responsible and stop breeding their horses for the sake of producing a foal. Reducing the size of the horse crop will, in effect, reduce the potential number of unwanted, starving horses.

Posted by: From what I've read on Apr 15, 2008 at 02:56 AM
If the slaughter market were available the horse would have sold at the stockyards. Since there is no slaughter market, there is no value for unwanted horses. With hay and fuel at record prices, people are choosing to feed their families and keep a roof over their heads instead of feeding unwanted horses. Sometimes choices have to be made. The man in Rowan County had open heart surgery and was paying someone to feed the horses in the barn. The outside horse carcassses that were found in the hollow were from horses that had died 25- 30 years ago from OLD age. When you're sick and pay a person to do a job, you assume it's being done. It's a situation that in a split second a whole bunch of us with horses could be in if our health declines. Don't blame the man for being sick and not being able to take care of his horses, blame his hired help for not feeding.

Posted by: Fred Location: Lexington on Apr 14, 2008 at 09:38 PM
I wish you all would get so tore up about homeless people starving on the streets everyday...

Posted by: Disgusted Location: KY on Apr 14, 2008 at 06:19 PM
I can't believe that someone would do this to a living, breathing creature. I hope the person who dumped her is found, convicted and punished. If they can do this to an animal I hope they don't have children or an elderly person to care for, I'm sure they would receive the same treatment when they are no longer useful to this barbaric, heartless, and cruel person. Thank God for people like Kim & Steve who are willing to donate their time, energy, and money to stray, abused and abandoned animals. They are wonderful people and I pray that the money is raised for Destiny to get the medical treatment she needs. All God's creatures deserve to live a healthy pain free life.

Posted by: Pat Location: Ky. on Apr 14, 2008 at 05:58 PM
If the 31 horses had been getting food (bad or otherwise) they would have eaten it and not eaten the wood of their stalls . I hope the most severe charges are brought for this against all concerned. How do 31 animals starve to death 300 yards from where the owner lives?

Posted by: Dakota24 Location: Indiana on Apr 14, 2008 at 05:41 PM
Oh, and by the way - do those of you that are stating "here we go again" really think any horses that remain in this persons property aren't being starved or abused after seeing Destiny's condition? Just because nobody reported any starving horses as of yet doesn't mean that the rest of the horses that this person owns aren't being starved. Try to look at the bigger picture here instead of just criticizing and comparing Destiny to 31 starving horses.

Posted by: Dakota24 Location: Indiana on Apr 14, 2008 at 05:28 PM
I'm sorry but I don't think it matters much if someone starves them or leaves them for dead on a highway! Either situation is cruel. How would you feel if a family with kids in the backseat hit this horse and killed the entire family? Think of that before comparing it to a man starving 31 horses. I have been involved in a case where someone starved 70 plus horses. There is no reason for compartive statements, its all bad. Its time animal owners took responsibility for their animals. Someone here knows where this horse came from and should do the right thing and speak up!! Lets be thankful that the horse or a car full of people did not die over this persons stupidity!!

Posted by: Appalled Location: South East KY on Apr 14, 2008 at 03:49 PM
”HERE WE GO AGAIN” It is that exact attitude that landed this poor horse where she was. These are all living, breathing, caring animals and they deserve to be treated with respect and dignity. I hope if you ever get to the point that you need someone to care for you that you get someone who is more compassionate than the people who dumped Destiny on the side of the road.

Posted by: Lucille Location: Houston on Apr 14, 2008 at 03:43 PM
Dumping a horse off on the side of a hwy is criminal and abusive. The horse could have easily wondered onto the hwy and been struck by a car not only killing the horse but the folks in the car. If you know who the owner of this horse is or have any information on how the horse was dumped off please call the sheriff's department and give them the information.

Posted by: Anonymous Location: Ky on Apr 14, 2008 at 03:17 PM
I hope the scum bag get caught. No excuse for this.

Posted by: Pam Location: Kentucky on Apr 14, 2008 at 03:11 PM
The 'dude' didn't starve his 31 horses - someone else was feeding them bad feed.

Posted by: Vicky Location: Danville on Apr 14, 2008 at 02:19 PM
I hope they find the person that left that poor horse for dead. In my opinion it is no different than MURDER!!! and I hope they go to jail for life.

Posted by: HORSELADY Location: E.KY on Apr 14, 2008 at 08:37 AM
HERE WE GO AGAIN,, .AT LEAST THEY TURNED THE HORSE OUT TO EAT,UNLIKE THE DUDE WHO STARVED 31 HORSES.

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