Horse neglect - 11 seized
Grand Island, NE (US)Incident Date: Sunday, Sep 28, 2008
County: Hall
Disposition: Alleged
Alleged: Juan Medina-Mena
Eleven neglected horses taken from a pasture near Highway 34 and Rainbow Road on Sunday were doing better and getting necessary care Monday.
Central Nebraska Humane Society Executive Director Laurie Dethloff said the two horses that were taken to a Grand Island veterinarian made it through the night. The animal control officers and volunteers who helped load the horses into trailers Sunday had their doubts about the survival chances of the skinnier of the two horses. The animal, which has severe facial warts, fell twice as people tried to load her.
However, Dethloff said the animal is doing better.
"I take this as a sign of little blessings," she said. "It's a happy ending."
The horses were relinquished Sunday by their owner, Juan Medina-Mena of Grand Island. He was cited by the Humane Society for 11 counts of animal neglect and cruelty, said Hall County Sheriff's Capt. Jim Castleberry.
Medina-Mena didn't give authorities a reason for neglecting the horses.
The Humane Society learned of the neglected horses in June and had been building a case against the owner.
The horses are receiving medical attention, including being treated for parasites, and are being cared for by foster families. The two horses at the vet's office will go into foster care in about a week, Dethloff said.
The foster families had to meet certain criteria and have agreed to go the extra length required for the horses' special care, she said. Anyone wishing to make donations to help defray the medical and feeding costs for the horses can contact the Humane Society at 385-5305 or stop by the shelter at 1312 N. Sky Park Road.
Dethloff spoke to one of the foster families Monday and said they told her one of the horses was galloping around and playing with their other horses.
"It was like she knew that she was in a safe place and what it was to have a full tummy," Dethloff said. "It was cool."
She commended the Sheriff's Department and the Grand Island Police Department for the assistance they provide to the Humane Society in animal neglect and cruelty cases.
"They've been phenomenal," she said. "They help make people accoutable for their actions. There are studies that show that people who abuse animals often move to domestic abuse, so it's great that (local law enforcement) take these cases seriously." References
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