For Immediate Release
For more information:
Jennifer Williams, President Bluebonnet Equine Humane Society
jenn@bluebonnetequine.org
Phone: (888) 542 5163
Kim Simpson, foster home and neglect investigator, Bluebonnet Equine Humane Society
(903) 335 9307
www.bluebonnetequine.org
BLUEBONNET EQUINE HUMANE SOCIETY AWARDED EIGHTEEN HORSES IN SECOND SEIZURE IN TWO MONTHS IN HOPKINS COUNTY
In July 2009, both Bluebonnet Equine Humane Society and the Hopkins County Sheriff’s Department received several reports of neglect regarding horses located on a Brashear, Texas property. When investigators arrived on the scene, they discovered emaciated horses as well as the remains of several deceased horses.
On Saturday, July 18, 2009 volunteers from Bluebonnet Equine Humane Society accompanied sheriff’s deputies to the property where they removed eighteen horses. The group included several orphaned foals whose mothers died, apparently from malnutrition.
On Monday July 27th, Justice of the Peace Yvonne King presided over a hearing to determine the fate of all eighteen horses. County Attorney Dusty Rabe presented evidence showing the neglected condition of the horses, and after careful deliberation Judge King agreed that the horses appeared neglected and awarded them to Bluebonnet Equine Humane Society. She also ordered the horses’ owner to pay restitution to BEHS for the cost of performing the seizure and preparing for court.
This is the second case Bluebonnet Equine Humane Society has been involved with in Hopkins County in the past two months. In May, BEHS assisted in a seizure of 57 horses from another Hopkins County owner. The rescue is currently caring for over 100 horses and cannot continue to help the sheriff’s department with neglect and abuse cases without public help.
Rehabilitation of the animals will take several months and cost the organizations thousands of dollars. If you would like to make a contribution to assist with the animals rehabilitation or would like to become a foster care-giver for these or other neglect case horses, please contact Bluebonnet Equine Humane Society. Bluebonnet Equine Humane Society also has over fifty horses available for adoption. If you have room to add a horse to your farm, consider adopting one of the horses in the rescue’s care.
Bluebonnet Equine Humane Society
(888) 542 5163 – info@bluebonnetequine.org – www.bluebonnetequine.org