NBC29SPCA Asks for Help with Seized Horses
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One week from Friday, Tory Allen Garrett will go before a judge on a charge of animal cruelty. A total of 41 horse and ponies were seized from Garrett's property on Tuesday. Now, those animals are getting intensive care at an undisclosed location in Augusta County.
Hungrily devouring fresh hay, ponies, horses and donkeys slowly eat their way back to health. Many of them arrived severely malnourished.
"There's her withers, there's her backbone, there's her hipbone and tailbone. None of that should... That all should be covered with meat and muscle," Augusta SPCA Director Debbie Caywood pointed out on one horse.
More than three dozen animals have full access to feed, water, shelter and paddocks, things a vet says they lacked on the Waynesboro farm of Garrett. They were seized only three days ago, but handlers say they can already tell the difference.
According to Caywood, "When they get malnourished and they think they're starving to death, there's a sense of anxiety and it's just -- they become fearful."
"There's so much less stress, they're so calm. They just go out and graze. We come in, they come up to us. They sense that we're their friends, definitely," said volunteer veterinarian Kelly Ellison.
But the animals still have along way to go. Beyond their emaciation, all are being treated for parasites. Others are being treated for skin conditions like rain rot.
Caywood shared, "We have had several horse cases, but this is probably the worst overall. We've had horses in this bad of shape, just not the numbers that were that bad."
On the day of their seizure, the horses' owner angrily told police that you could see they're in good shape. Caretakers say it's not that simple.
"No matter whether it's dogs, cats or horses, you've got to take the time to put your hands on the animal. Looking can be very deceiving," said Caywood.
The Augusta Regional SPCA has already received donations of hay bales, horse feed and other supplies. But it needs plenty more. To help out, click here.
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