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News Coverage: Bedford County Abuse news coverage
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For additional information: Christy Sheidy, christy@ac4h.com, 610-621-5290
ANOTHER CHANCE 4 HORSES, INC. COORDINATES MEMORIAL DAY RESCUE OF SEIZED, NEGLECTED EQUINES IN BEDFORD COUNTY
Tax-Deductible Donations Needed
BERNVILLE, Penn. – May 30, 2007 – The distress call first came in to Christy Sheidy, co-founder of the non-profit rescue Another Chance 4 Horses (AC4H), on the evening of Memorial Day: concerned Everette resident Tosha Deibert reported that one horse at a Bedford County farm was down and struggling, and others were in bad condition.
Sheidy noted the details as Deibert narrated them – half a dozen horses all very thin, afflicted with rain rot (a painful fungal condition caused by neglect), some reported to have lice infestations, all in need of foot care, veterinary treatment, and most of all, food – and immediately called the information over to the Bedford County Humane Society, which is empowered to seize animals in danger.
Agent Shirley Deemer was immediately dispatched to the location to investigate. She determined the seriousness of the situation, and seized the three horses in the worst condition on the spot: -- a palomino (the one that was down and struggling); -- a blind pony in a sad state, apparently foundered (a severe and excruciatingly painful hoof problem), and with possible untreated Cushing's disease, as evidenced by its crested neck that had actually fallen over; -- and an aged grey Thoroughbred gelding, who now needs a foster home.
For the other neglected horses still remaining on the property, temporary homes were needed immediately, and thanks to AC4H, Inc. and the Bedford County Humane Society, two homes were found at once. AC4H has offered to take in and rehabilitate a paint mare who, according to Agent Deemer, is in extreme pain caused by separation of the hoof wall from the rest of her front feet.
"This poor girl is suffering terribly from past neglect," said Sheidy. "At this point we don't have any other information about her, other than knowing she will have a long-term rehabilitation."
The fifth horse was an American Saddlebred gelding, and when AC4H contacted Saddlebred Rescue on his behalf, the group immediately agreed to take him in. The sixth horse, a buckskin gelding, still needs a foster home. Anyone who could provide a foster or adoptive home for the buckskin or the grey Thoroughbred first seized should call the Human Society at the number below.
"I've been rescuing horses from abuse, neglect and the likelihood of inhumane slaughter for more than 10 years, and you never get used to the shock of seeing a new case of suffering for the first time," said Sheidy. "But AC4H is here to make a difference. I'm so glad Ms. Deibert called us in to help, after she found these suffering horses, that Agent Deemer arrived on the scene so soon, and that the help got there in time for most of them."
Sadly, the condition of the blind pony was too serious and he could not be saved: he was humanely euthanized 24 hours after his rescue. "At least he did not die in agony," said Sheidy. "Humans finally gave him that last bit of respect."
To restore the horses to health and normal weight will take many weeks or even months, and will require careful feeding of nutritious hay and grain, medications, and the services of farriers (blacksmiths) and veterinarians. Any and all assistance will be greatly appreciated – please consider helping these horses with a tax-deductible contribution, either to the Bedford County Humane Society, which is bearing most of the burden, or to AC4H for the paint mare. The palomino will be tended by Good Samaritan Deibert, whose concern led to the rescue of all six.
Send donations to:
Bedford County Humane Society 1108 Lutzville Rd Everette, PA 15537 814-623-8968 Include notation: bad feet seizure
or
Another Chance 4 Horses, Inc. 166 Station Rd., Bernville, PA 19506 610-621-5290 Paypal: christy@ac4h.com Website: www.ac4h.com
About Another Chance 4 Horses, Inc. Another Chance 4 Horses, Inc. Rescue, Rehabilitation and Placement is a non-profit 501c(3) corporation located in Pennsylvania. In continuous operation for over a decade, AC4H is a volunteer-based all-breed horse rescue located in a highly horse-populated area. We find ample need for our services, with multiple race tracks in our tri-state area as well as auctions that supply horses to foreign-owned slaughterhouses for human consumption.
We assist horses through surrenders/neglect cases, local auctions outbidding kill-buyers, buying sick or injured horses and purchasing directly out of the kill pens, sometimes moments before they are shipped to slaughter. We play no favorites: our supporters' generous donations have allowed us to assist Thoroughbreds and Standardbreds off the track, Quarter Horses, Morgans, Saddlebreds, Paints, Mustangs, donkeys, mules, miniature horses, draft horses, ponies and PMU horses – saving literally thousands of lives.
Rescuing and rehabilitating our equine friends is incredibly rewarding, but also expensive and time-consuming. The horses rely entirely on donations, and help is always needed. It is only through generous contributions that we can do what we do to save the horses. Donations are tax deductible, and no amount is too small -- there is not one life that isn't important to us. For more information, write to Christy Sheidy, christy@ac4h.com.
### EDITORS' NOTE: For pictures of the seized horses, write to christy@ac4h.com.
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