HELP! Need to know who to call other than Animal Control for horse neglect at a boarding facility

[cloudyandcallie]

In Georgia our dept of ag has agents with law enforcement credentials who can seize horses. Call yours

Of course calling tv stations gets results fast. I loved how our Atlanta reporters helped us rescue all kinds of animals. Call yours now

[Brown_Derby]

@cardinale

There is a vaccine now for pigeon fever/dryland distemper. Has anyone had experience with it? The other boarders might want to get their horses vaccinated.

Trials were in progress a few years ago; I don’t know what ever became of them. So, unfortunately, no vaccine is currently available. IF PF were prevalent in say, Kentucky, Florida, and NY, (i.e., the big players in the horse industry), the pharmaceutical companies might push towards development.

[Where_sMyWhite]

@rhershock

I do plan to leave some reviews once one of my friends gets all of her belongings off property. I agree, I think even the animal control officer thought it might be hard since there’s really no guidances on what is abuse in boarding places.

Regarding abuse in a boarding place. Legally/criminally, animal abuse is animal abuse, regardless of where it is taking place or who may be responsible. You should be able to search California’s State Statutes for the legal definition of livestock abuse (that’s what horses are, livestock, not pets). If the legal definition of minimum care is being met, often not much more than law enforcement (in whatever form) can do.

IMO, I’d also be careful what you say in your reviews in a public forum. It sounds like you never boarded a horse there so your information is based on what your friend tells you and what you have seen when you have visited the facility. If there is a negative review, it should come from your friend. I’d also still consider carefully what I wrote since what you say can be seen by anyone, not just potential future boarders.

I’m not saying that abuse isn’t happening but hopefully to help you understand your legal options and things to consider.

[Mango20]

Do your state’s boarding facilities have to be licensed? Here they do, and there is a license inspector who checks on each farm every year or two to renew the license. If that’s something that happens there, maybe you could contact them and ask for an inspection.

[rhershock]

@Where'sMyWhite

Regarding abuse in a boarding place. Legally/criminally, animal abuse is animal abuse, regardless of where it is taking place or who may be responsible. You should be able to search California’s State Statutes for the legal definition of livestock abuse (that’s what horses are, livestock, not pets). If the legal definition of minimum care is being met, often not much more than law enforcement (in whatever form) can do.

IMO, I’d also be careful what you say in your reviews in a public forum. It sounds like you never boarded a horse there so your information is based on what your friend tells you and what you have seen when you have visited the facility. If there is a negative review, it should come from your friend. I’d also still consider carefully what I wrote since what you say can be seen by anyone, not just potential future boarders.

I’m not saying that abuse isn’t happening but hopefully to help you understand your legal options and things to consider.

I did board there for 5 months. I saw what I thought was gradual decline in horse/animal care but now I realize what probably was happening was the owner was putting on a. good front for us when we first moved and then just slid back into her old ways. I plan to leave a review for her place but will try to make it factual and not emotional as another commented stated.

[rhershock]

@Mango20

Do your state’s boarding facilities have to be licensed? Here they do, and there is a license inspector who checks on each farm every year or two to renew the license. If that’s something that happens there, maybe you could contact them and ask for an inspection.

Ill check this out today too. The Dept of Ag seems to not be in office but I would assume they are still taking phone calls. Im also still waiting to hear back from the Animal Control officer. I figure Id give her a few days to get things sorted out.

[candyappy]

@rhershock

I did board there for 5 months. I saw what I thought was gradual decline in horse/animal care but now I realize what probably was happening was the owner was putting on a. good front for us when we first moved and then just slid back into her old ways. I plan to leave a review for her place but will try to make it factual and not emotional as another commented stated.

Did you see all the horses there before you moved in? You moved in when pastures were good ( green) so the condition of the horses probably reflected that. As the weather got hotter and the rain stopped the pasture gradually declined as did the horses condition. This is probably the way it is every year. Not the acceptable way to run a boarding operation but if they can just get her to feed adequate hay they shouldn’t need to shut it down.

[Elsari]

It’s so tough being a boarder and seeing other horses in need. Not a fun spot to be in. I sympathize OP. You’ve done what you can (in my opinion). Despite not getting enough calories, they still have access to food, shelter, and water. I’ve seen some atrocious things with lamanitic horses that should have been put down, but the owner didn’t want to part with them. Humane Society really couldn’t do anything because the owner was still working with a vet, even though there was no way these horses were ever going to recover. Didn’t matter that there was picture/video evidence.

[4horses]

Is there a mounted unit with the police department? I would try contacting them.

[trubandloki]

@rhershock

She considered my well maintained horse to be fat while horses in the pasture where you could see ribs and spines as healthy weight. She did the same to her cows. The cattle often broke out to get to the horse’s feed because they were also starving.

This is why another smart poster told you to give a fact only review. Comments like this make you lose credibility.

I am not saying these cows were not hungry/underfed. But anyone with an animal history knows that an animal does not need to be starving to break out and eat things it is not supposed to be eating. There is a reason for that old saying about the grass being greener on the other side of the fence.

Make sure your complaints are heard by not turning them into just crazy animal fanatic drivel.

On you original question - I think you have started the process with animal control and it might be best to let animal control do their thing before you call too many places.

[Where_sMyWhite]

@trubandloki

But anyone with an animal history knows that an animal does not need to be starving to break out and eat things it is not supposed to be eating. There is a reason for that old saying about the grass being greener on the other side of the fence.

In a former life, I used to help our local LE deal with loose cattle. Range fenced in barbed wire (of varying quality) but decent grass inside (green, not overgrazed, cattle in good weight). Yeah, the cattle had to be on the outside of the fence in the road :eek: Cattle get out, they just do and sometimes who knows why.

Can any of the livestock in poor condition be seen from a public road (not a driveway)? That can also make a difference in terms of LE getting access to the property to view possible underfed animals.

[cardinale]

Trials were in progress a few years ago; I don’t know what ever became of them. So, unfortunately, no vaccine is currently available. IF PF were prevalent in say, Kentucky, Florida, and NY, (i.e., the big players in the horse industry), the pharmaceutical companies might push towards development.

The DD vaccine is being administered this month at a vet clinic in CA so it is available and in use at least in that state. They are giving banamine also so there must be a reaction which might explain why it’s not more widely used? Also, probably released only to vets.

[rhershock]

@candyappy

Did you see all the horses there before you moved in? You moved in when pastures were good ( green) so the condition of the horses probably reflected that. As the weather got hotter and the rain stopped the pasture gradually declined as did the horses condition. This is probably the way it is every year. Not the acceptable way to run a boarding operation but if they can just get her to feed adequate hay they shouldn’t need to shut it down.

You’re right. everyone looked pretty fat and happy when we moved in.

[rhershock]

@Where'sMyWhite

In a former life, I used to help our local LE deal with loose cattle. Range fenced in barbed wire (of varying quality) but decent grass inside (green, not overgrazed, cattle in good weight). Yeah, the cattle had to be on the outside of the fence in the road :eek: Cattle get out, they just do and sometimes who knows why.

Can any of the livestock in poor condition be seen from a public road (not a driveway)? That can also make a difference in terms of LE getting access to the property to view possible underfed animals.

No nothing from the drive or road sadly. I agree that cows seem to get out when they shouldn’t. I think my aggravation that was seen in the comment I made about them was that they broke the fencing which led to my horse getting out of the pasture about 3 times. The fence was not fixed, I had to rope it off myself and I was told my horse didnt respect the hot wire fencing when in fact the hot wire was not on due to the cows breaking the fencing. Just so glad to be out of there.

[rhershock]

UPDATE: Animal control can do nothing as the horses in questions are around a body scale of 2.5 and they need to be at a 2 or below for action to be taken. I will just leave an emotionless, fact driven review of the place where I can and call it day.

[rhershock]

@trubandloki

This is why another smart poster told you to give a fact only review. Comments like this make you lose credibility.

I am not saying these cows were not hungry/underfed. But anyone with an animal history knows that an animal does not need to be starving to break out and eat things it is not supposed to be eating. There is a reason for that old saying about the grass being greener on the other side of the fence.

Make sure your complaints are heard by not turning them into just crazy animal fanatic drivel.

On you original question - I think you have started the process with animal control and it might be best to let animal control do their thing before you call too many places.

I only say this because she did in fact stop feeding the cows as well. My trainer was there most mornings when she fed and she did feed the cows for a few weeks and then just stopped. They were fine when they were getting hay every day but as soon as they stopped, they started busting through the fencing to get at the horse’s hay and other food they could find. It was all around just a sad situation for everyone living on property.

[Xanthoria]

There used to be a boarding barn down in Los Altos area that was just a vast 900 acre pasture situation. The horses got grass hay 2x a day when there was no grass, and unless it was raining out… the horses that did well there were obese in spring, and a bit thin in fall, coinciding with the rise and fall of the grass. For the right horse it kinda worked though… but not for all. There were not many rules/general chaos and the horsemanship level was on the low side among some boarders… Maybe that’s the kind of place this is?

[Equkelly]

Honestly, there’s really nothing you can do aside from leaving them a bad yelp review. It sucks, but there are PLENTY of situations I personally would think of as “abuse” or “neglect” that just don’t qualify. And there’s also plenty of things I do with my mare that others would say are neglect. It’s just too subjective

But in the future, when you witness abuse or neglect, you call ASAP. There are just too many stories of people calling AC on their previous boarding barn when they leave after a bunch of drama. I’m not saying you’re exaggerating, I’m sure the circumstances for those horses are really horrendous, but when you wait to say anything until every things have already blown up, it just looks like you’re trying to get back at the owners for whatever drama it was that caused you to leave.

[SonnysMom]

@Equkelly

Honestly, there’s really nothing you can do aside from leaving them a bad yelp review. It sucks, but there are PLENTY of situations I personally would think of as “abuse” or “neglect” that just don’t qualify. And there’s also plenty of things I do with my mare that others would say are neglect. It’s just too subjective

But in the future, when you witness abuse or neglect, you call ASAP. There are just too many stories of people calling AC on their previous boarding barn when they leave after a bunch of drama. I’m not saying you’re exaggerating, I’m sure the circumstances for those horses are really horrendous, but when you wait to say anything until every things have already blown up, it just looks like you’re trying to get back at the owners for whatever drama it was that caused you to leave.

That is a Catch-22. If the owner ever figures out who called then they may choose to retaliate against the horse. Or give them 48 hours to leave which leads to the HO scrambling to find a new place without time to do a lot of research.

Underfeeding is hard since it creeps up gradually compared to physical abuse or a wound left untreated.

[rhershock]

@Xanthoria

There used to be a boarding barn down in Los Altos area that was just a vast 900 acre pasture situation. The horses got grass hay 2x a day when there was no grass, and unless it was raining out… the horses that did well there were obese in spring, and a bit thin in fall, coinciding with the rise and fall of the grass. For the right horse it kinda worked though… but not for all. There were not many rules/general chaos and the horsemanship level was on the low side among some boarders… Maybe that’s the kind of place this is?

Yeah I get the sense that the owner figured our horses were just not cut out for the pasture life. I disagree considering I think all horses should be on 24/7 turnout if they can with additional feed if necessary. The horses that did well were the horses that were just pasture ornaments and never ridden.