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(July 1, 2010; Leander, Texas) Bluebonnet Equine Humane Society has been awarded custody of a neglected mare from Leander, Texas. In June, Leander Animal Control investigated a report about a starving young mare. The officers agreed that she appeared neglected, filed for a warrant and removed her from her owner. The officers then presented evidence at court to substantiate their claims that the mare’s owners neglected her. The Justice of the Peace who heard the case ruled that the mare was indeed neglected and awarded her to Bluebonnet Equine Humane Society.
Bluebonnet’s President & Executive Director Dr. Jennifer Williams says they help law enforcement agencies throughout the state with neglected, abandoned and abused horses. “Often law enforcement agencies don’t have the resources to handle neglected horses, donkeys, mules and ponies, and that’s where we can help. When we have space, we take the animals in, rehabilitate them, and then try to find them new homes where they’ll be appreciated and loved.”
The organization, which is 501c3 non-profit, works through volunteers and donations. Although having a ranch or facility is one of their goals, at this time the rescue doesn’t. All of the organization’s horses go to volunteer foster homes who help with some of the cost of rehabilitating the horse and who provide the horse with the one-on-one care he needs. “We pay for veterinary care, de-worming, necessary medications and supplements, and a portion of the farrier care,” commented Williams. “But the foster homes pay for hay, grain, etc. The foster homes really are the angels for these horses: without them, many more needy horses would go hungry.”
The Leander mare, who the rescue calls Sioux, is a BLM Mustang mare. This means that she was a wild horse or mustang until being rounded up and adopted out at a BLM Adoption Event. She now resides at a foster home in Elgin. She’s been seen by a vet and is now on a rehabilitate program to help bring her weight back up.
Currently, Sioux resides at a foster home in Elgin. Her foster caregiver, Paula Weisskopf (who also serves on the Bluebonnet Board of Directors) says of the mare, “This mare has been a doll since she arrived. I must admit I’m quite puzzled why someone would go through the effort to have a farrier put shoes in a horse, but not bother to feed her. All this mare needed was food and some good grooming to get her coat back in shape. She’s gaining weight nicely and will be available for adoption very soon.”
Bluebonnet Equine Humane Society is limited in how many horses they can help by the number of available foster homes. They’re currently seeking horse lovers who are willing to foster and help rehabilitate future needy horses.
If you would like to contribute towards Sioux’s care, are interested in adopting a rescue horse, or would like to help Bluebonnet help other needy horses by fostering or volunteering, you can contact the rescue at http://www.bluebonnetequine.org or (888) 542 5163.
For more information about Bluebonnet Equine Humane Society, please visit www.bluebonnetequine.org, call the 888 542 5163 or email Dr. Williams at jenn@bluebonnetequine.org.
