MA: More Owners Surrendering Horses to MSPCA (at an alarming rate)

[Breeze54]

More Owners Surrendering Horses to MSPCA

http://www.thehorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=13144

by: Edited Press Release
November 21 2008, Article # 13144

The Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (MSPCA) is requesting community-based financial assistance to help cover the cost of medical assistance and daily care for the extraordinary number of horses being surrendered to the non-profit's Equine Center at Nevins Farm. This weekend the Nevins Farm facility will have 30 horses under its care, 43% more than in 2007. This is causing the MSPCA to seek temporary foster homes for some horses until acceptable, permanent homes are found for each horse.

"It is heart wrenching to witness the surrender of a horse that can no longer be cared for by its owner due to financial hardships," said Nevins Farm Barn Manager Melissa Ghareeb. "It is our responsibility to care for and champion these animals as we seek out their new homes."

The MSPCA continues to receive horses at an alarming average rate of nearly one per week. Five horses arrived this week, further stretching the MSPCA's limited resources. Many of the surrendered horses require medical care ranging from simple vaccinations to costly surgeries. Without funding from state or federal government, the MSPCA is hoping that individuals will step forward to help.

Ghareeb said caring for 30 horses at an average monthly cost of $320 has decimated their funds.

Even as individual owners are facing the increased cost of farriers, hay, grain, and veterinary services, the Equine Center is also impacted by these very same factors. Housing is also a concern since horse adoptions are less frequent than adoptions for small animals. Some horses have spent four years at Nevins Farm.

Contributions can be donated online at mspca.org/nevins or mailed to the MSPCA's Equine Center, 400 Broadway, Methuen, MA 01844.

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I can have pets at my new place but...

Hey? Want to do some early shopping?

[Liberal_in_LA]

1. I would imagine that the cost of a horse must be enormous (compared to a cat)

[Breeze54]

2. Approx. $320.00 a month or more... it's costing the MSPCA thousands more than

they have and it's all through donations. This was on the news here and a man and his daughter were there to adopt. They had planned to buy a thoroughbred but when they heard about this, they decided to take a look and see about adopting one of these horses. If I could afford it and had the land, I'd take one. As it is, I can't even afford a cat right now.

$320 x 30 = $9600.00 a month - just for the basic care, excluding surgeries.

[lligrd]

6. I Pay 850 A Month For Mine

450 for the board and 400 for exercize and training (that I am not equipped nor have the time to do). And mine is a rescue horse. That also excludes vet and monthly hoof care costs.

[Breeze54]

8. That's a lot!! Yikes!

I'm guessing the Nevins Ranch/Farm gets items in bulk at bulk prices.

You're a good person to have adopted the horse!!

[BeHereNow]

13. Where do you board?

I'm just blocks from the LA Equestrian center-
I see you are in California too-
Wouldn't that be a small world if you were boarding
near me!

If you are nearby, you MUST come to one of
our DU veggie taco get togethers!
Viva Fresh on Riverside.
We are WAY over due for a meet up.
BHN

[lligrd]

14. I Board In San Dimas - Bonelli Park

I have never even seen the LA Equestrian Center but am going to make it a plan to do so. I'd love to attend a DU veggie taco get together. Can you let me know when the next one is?

[Tuesday Afternoon]

3. another sign of the times. K and R.

Wish I could afford one.

[Breeze54]

4. Thanks for giving this a OP

a K&R

:hug:

[vanboggie]

5. Breeders blame this on slaughterhouses closing

I'm in the horse industry and from my perspective, it's these same breeders who have mares kicking out more foals when there is no longer a market for them. They seem to be breeding horses at the top and at the bottom - the backyard people who want a foal and breed grade horses with little to no chance of finding homes. They end up at auctions where good horses are going for $25 and where meat buyers buy them cheap and haul them to Canada or Mexico for slaughter.

Hay has gone sky high because it's being exported to Japan or China, or at the very least being sent to drought-stricken states so it will bring high dollar to growers. So even if you live in a state with good hay crops, costs are up because growers can make more money by shipping it out.

Grain has gone sky high with the cost of shipping and with hayfields being converted to growing corn for bio-fuels.

It's true it isn't easy being a horse owner anymore. Those of us who love our horses are just hanging on, trying to get by with minimal veterinary care and going without to keep our horses where we know they are safe.

Just more pain and misery for horses and their owners thanks to the Chimp 'n Cheney administration. The Chimperor Cowboy made it hell to be a horse, probably because he's afraid to ride one.

Bastards.

[XemaSab]

7. At the pound this week they said there were a LOT of owners surrendering dogs

(I was GETTING a dog, not losing one. :woohoo:)

[Breeze54]

9. Good for you!! With all the foreclosues, I'm glad people are

taking the animals to shelters instead of just leaving them.

That was all over the news for awhile. :(

[Hissyspit]

10. The Republicans and Bush - monsters and criminals - have destroyed this country

as best they could.

[vanboggie]

11. Amen

Man, woman and beast have all had our lives turned upside down by greedy criminals, who to date have gotten away with it.

[Breeze54]

12. And they have 2 months to go.... freaking scary!!

:scared:

:grr:

[shanti]

15. horses are expensive to own

probably why i don't have one :shrug: