Not really sure I know why I’m writing this but I just feel compelled to do so. Today I got a call for a loose horse. I’m a Livestock Deputy for Harris County as many of you know and these calls are “routine”. As I was driving down the road she was suppose to be on I noticed at the end of the roadway on the shoulder, she was down. I drove closer and realized it wasn’t her head I was looking at with pointy ears, it was her hip bone. She was so thin the point of her hip looked like ears from a distance.
I pulled over and approached. She perked her ears up and lifted her head. I have seen some skinny animals in my day but this was absolutely cruel. She had foundered in both feet and someone thought it appropriate to SCREW her hoof wall back to the hoof capsule to keep them from separating. This is like putting self tapping screws directly into your nail and into your finger if your nail is coming off.
I stood her up. I tried to load her but it was apparent she wasn’t going to even make the trailer ride anywhere in her condition much less get in it. I euthanized her right there in the grass. As I stared into her eyes, right before I sent her across the rainbow bridge I almost couldn’t do it. I lowered my hand for just a second but knowing the outcome, immediately raised it again and did what I’m asked to do.
I struggle with it as I sit here. I think mostly because I’m so angry I had to put her down in such a dump of a location. It was clear the people in the area didn’t deserve to own horses. I wish she could have had a meal and some water and walked pain free in a pasture for just a moment. She laid there for days with no water. Unable to stand with her hooves that way. I’m just ate up with anger over how someone can be so cruel.
I left and cried the whole way home. I’ve had to put animals down many many times but today, I saw the worst of humanity.
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I pulled over and approached. She perked her ears up and lifted her head. I have seen some skinny animals in my day but this was absolutely cruel. She had foundered in both feet and someone thought it appropriate to SCREW her hoof wall back to the hoof capsule to keep them from separating. This is like putting self tapping screws directly into your nail and into your finger if your nail is coming off.
I stood her up. I tried to load her but it was apparent she wasn’t going to even make the trailer ride anywhere in her condition much less get in it. I euthanized her right there in the grass. As I stared into her eyes, right before I sent her across the rainbow bridge I almost couldn’t do it. I lowered my hand for just a second but knowing the outcome, immediately raised it again and did what I’m asked to do.
I struggle with it as I sit here. I think mostly because I’m so angry I had to put her down in such a dump of a location. It was clear the people in the area didn’t deserve to own horses. I wish she could have had a meal and some water and walked pain free in a pasture for just a moment. She laid there for days with no water. Unable to stand with her hooves that way. I’m just ate up with anger over how someone can be so cruel.
I left and cried the whole way home. I’ve had to put animals down many many times but today, I saw the worst of humanity.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
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