Saturday, August 1, 2009

Portrait of a Seizure

The Sonoma County CHANGE Program assists Sonoma County Animal Care & Control when AC takes physical custody of horses due to chronic neglect or abuse. CHANGE arranges for safe transport, veterinary care, and skilled rehabilitative care in a foster barn. Eventually, most seized horses are available for adoption through the CHANGE Program.

July 27th, 2009

9:00am

I pull my car up the drive leading onto an east Sonoma County property. I’m here to help load three aged Arabian mares into trailers, taking part in an Animal Care & Control horse seizure operation, and representing the Sonoma County CHANGE Program.

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The horse owner is nowhere in sight, so no confrontation is anticipated. The property owner is on hand, and appears grateful that the horses will be removed.

I walk over to the paddock where the horses are kept. The terrain is rocky, with an immediate down hill slope. It appears to be a poor choice of a place to keep livestock, with more of a warehouse feeling to it than an actual habitat. My eyes lock onto a block of hay that the horses all but ignore. It appears to be grass hay, but its color is dull and texture dusty. It’s old, and appears to have been kept uncovered for a year or two. I can see that it’s full of mold and dry as sand.

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The horses are clearly under weight, and show every detail of each rib. They lack muscle tone, and have an overall demeanor that reflects lethargy and morass. I think of my own horses, and shiver at the thought that anyone would allow their equines to degrade to this condition.



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The horses turn out to be gentle, and very receptive to the human touch.

Crystal, a twenty-one year old gray mare stands close by Cecilia, her fifteen year old daughter. They have been together for a decade and a half.

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Mama horse Crystal stands waiting, her eye swollen shut, while Animal Control and CHANGE Program representatives prepare her for transport.

Laya, a twelve year old bay with a soft eye stands by the gate patiently.

Each horse readily accepts the halter, and they are led out towards the trailers. They walk with no hesitation, as if they know a better place awaits them.

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"Cecilia" seems grateful for the kind touch of a CHANGE Program volunteer, who prepares her for her trip to a CHANGE foster barn, where Cecilia will receive veterinary care and a lot of TLC.

I take Laya off to the side, and wait while the mother and daughter get loaded. Laya nuzzles into the fold between my left arm and chest, leaving a slight trace of dirt off her very dry nose. I rub my hand from her poll to muzzle and over each eye, which causes her to push up gently against my hand.

One by one, we get Cecilia, Crystal and Laya into separate trailers. They don’t pull back, and appear to prefer the confines of the trailer over their paddock. One at a time, the trailers pull away, destined for un-disclosed foster barns, where the rehabilitation process will be begin.

by Tim
Sonoma CHANGE Program volunteer

Stay tuned for updates about Cecilia, Crystal and Laya in our new once-weekly blog!

1 comment:

  1. that just breaks my heart. unfortunately we are seeing it more and more. so glad you were able to help these beautiful girls!

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