I don’t know much about generators but I know that some people run motor homes on them when no hook ups are available. Maybe she has some solar power too and/or some car batteries or something like that? Maybe the generator is for emergency only??
[QUOTE=Coanteen;5147865]
Naturalequus, why not give Animal Control the benefit of the doubt too? Sure, all most of us have to judge the situation is a one-sided article and some pics/video, but at least we have pics and video of part of PP’s place, and even you’ll admit there are some issues that should be addressed in the horses’ environment.
We know nothing at all about these Animal Control officers or the neighbors, and yet look at all the conjecture: they might not like the smell, they might’ve been plotting to get rid of the horses, they might’ve overturned the water trough, the vet might be paid off, this could be to get media attention and donations.
Really? Perhaps keep a little bit of that reserved judgment and benefit of the doubt for those involved in this tale who aren’t PP. At least from Animal Control’s point of view it was probably an easy decision: person with prior conviction on animal cruelty, under investigation for over a year with another pending charge of some kind, now MIA and the animals have no water. Sure the water could be a bad farm sitter’s fault, but Animal Control still did nothing wrong.[/QUOTE]
I am, of course, as per my posts, giving AC credit in this situation. My point was simply that it is unfair to judge the owner of these horses based on the little information we have thus far. AC is not infallible nor are the neighbours nor the media. Perhaps everything is not as it appears in the newstory, plain and simple.
I completely agree (and have stated previously) that from AC’s pov, given only the info they are privy to, their seizure was likely legitimate - just as you pointed out. It may be proven that the seizure was unwarranted when the full story comes out, however given what they know, they might have perceived it as necessary and that is certainly fine - they likely did not act out of place given the circumstances. Hopefully if that be the case, they return the animals without further ado. Like I said, I simply wanted to point out (in response to some of the posts) that AC is not infallible either and to consider the entire story before placing judgement on either party. Already been said in my previous posts 
Pintopiaffe is in MAINE (ME), not Massachusetts (MA).
[QUOTE=BLBGP;5147932]
Another misconception is that SPCA’s in the states are chapters. All SPCA’s are independent here. They don’t report to the aspca or hsus.
I understand that you have problems with a bad ex and an allegedly ill-run seizure. But just because you ran into a bad egg doesn’t mean that all SPCA’s are bad or that the SPCA (or Animal Control - I didn’t read the article so I don’t know who is involved with this case) is automatically suspect.
Also, just because the neighbor interviews were silly doesn’t mean that AC doesn’t have a case.[/QUOTE]
Interesting, I did not realise they did not report to a head aspca or hsus. I had no evidence to suggest as such just had never really considered it. Thanks - you learn something new every day! I do feel my point still stands as a possibility with any rescue group and therefore a reason to reserve judgement on the owner of these horses and this situation. Thank-you though, because that does instill more confidence in myself as far as other aspca and hsus’s go!
Actually, the ex and SPCA case was not me. It was a family friend. I could never afford what this individual has gone through - not that they have tens of thousands of dollars to afford, but they at least probably have that sort of borrowing power and equity, whereas I do not. I would have had to wave goodbye to my animals. Then shoot my ex :winkgrin:
I understand fully that one case does not mean the entire SPCA is suspect however in this case further research does suggest as such as far as this specific SPCA is concerned. As I mentioned in my posts, I have seen evidence (confidential SPCA documents) that strongly suggests as such and the upper-level management was involved (and clearly suspect) in the case of my family friend.
[QUOTE=Thomas_1;5147938]
I’ve insinuated nothing.
You told us what you and your friends do and hence what you think is common place and the norm![/QUOTE]
Not at all. Nowhere did I mention that I did as such (except that we have had animals break through well-maintained fences - it happens). In fact, I said the exact opposite but that I know people in similar situations and thus understand. Perhaps you should re-read my posts :yes:
I can only speak for myself, however I was only lending another perspective. I am neither condemning the AC nor the owner in question. The reason I brought the AC up was that indviduals were condemning the owner and I felt it appropriate to shed light that ‘hey, things might not be as they seem, so let’s back off and not judge’ Sorry if it came off as such lol 
Pintopiaffe is in MAINE (ME), not Massachusetts (MA).
I know that…I am just pointing out that I have seen worse…in MA.
[QUOTE=chaltagor;5148047]
Oh, ok then, PP’s almost complete lack of effort to keep her horses in is totally ok! I assume you have the same set-up as her? Poly tape tied in knots around metal stakes? Bent metal tubes held together with plastic zip ties?[/QUOTE]
Clearly you cannot read? If you cannot read, please refrain from answering my post, because I have already answered your question.
I never said it was ok nor have I stated I have the same (I don’t), just pointed out that we do not know the whole story as it related to this seizure nor to any of the other ‘issues’ such as the loose horses. Do you know how many times her horses have been out, which ones, if anything was done to remedy the situation, if the horses have been out since, etc?
I assume so, since you clearly seem insinuate such knowledge :yes:
Since you don’t, then maybe we should reserve judgement?
Obviously she has some electric appliances.
We all are spoiled, using way more electricity than we really need, it’s readily available and rather cheap - most of the time. I think if you don’t mind cutting back you can comfortably run your life with only a couple of hours of juice: crank that baby up, charge what needs recharging, play on the computer, read a bit, maybe even watch a bit TV, shut it down and go to bed. Mankind lived long and prospered without it for a long long time.
I am, too going to reserve judgment until more is known. I am just baffled, that’s all. I mean, there are so many cases all over the country (and Canada) where you can’t get an AC officer out to look at walking skeletons, here they seize horses that seem to be in proper weight, not even long manes etc.
I think they quoted the AC officer that they gave this case precedent over starving animals, I mean, you gotta be kidding me. It makes no sense.
I hope this all gets cleared up soon.
[QUOTE=summerhorse;5148183]
From Fivehorses:
Each time I see the videos, I get madder. Last time I watched, one of the grey horse’s was being walked with mud above his ankles. Now come on, please tell me how that is good for a horse?[/QUOTE]
It’s not “good” for them. But please realize we’ve had A LOT of rain in the last two weeks. LOTS. As in tropical storm created, flood warning, rain.
So even places that aren’t usually muddy, are.
I am, too going to reserve judgment until more is known. I am just baffled, that’s all. I mean, there are so many cases all over the country (and Canada) where you can’t get an AC officer out to look at walking skeletons, here they seize horses that seem to be in proper weight, not even long manes etc.
I think they quoted the AC officer that they gave this case precedent over starving animals, I mean, you gotta be kidding me. It makes no sense.
I hope this all gets cleared up soon.
It makes perfect sense if you look at the information that the ACO is working with.
Horses in non-secure enclosures, no water, no apparent caretaker.
They don’t know where she is, or that she supposedly hired a caretaker who didn’t show up.
[QUOTE=Alagirl;5148237]
I think they quoted the AC officer that they gave this case precedent over starving animals, I mean, you gotta be kidding me. It makes no sense.
I hope this all gets cleared up soon.[/QUOTE]
This is what I keep coming back to. There have been several cases JUST THIS YEAR of horses that were being willfully starved by their owners. And AWP chose to leave them where they were. With the owners who were starving them.
There have been cases where after the state seized close to 30 horses, and had documented deaths related to lack of food, the remaining animals were returned to the owner who starved them.
Something is VERY VERY strange with all of this - year long investigation or not (I would assume that a list of complaints coupled with the escaped filly would qualify as “open case”). The supposed lack of shelter doesn’t even technically qualify as a reason right now - Three sided shelters must be provided from November - April.
I am hopeful that there is an explanation for the confinement in the round pens and the lack of water - something that I would assume the farmsitter can explain.
I find it so hard to fathom that people are willing to execute someone based on a few photos taken in someone’s front yard. I believe PP has nearly 10 acres of land, and as documented in her Photobucket albums, she has nice looking pasture areas that must be behind the mobile home.
It’s so easy to crucify someone when you don’t know the whole story.
I certainly don’t know the whole story, but at this point, I’m more than willing to give PP the benefit of the doubt. Are there some things at her place that she’d probably like to fix up? I’ll bet there are. And if she needs help doing that, I’m more than willing to lend a hand.
one more thing: Is it normal in Maine to put a suspect’s name, age and address into the paper before charges have been filed or court precedings initiated? 
I mean, that’s almost like an invitation to every lowlife in town to go clean out the property! not to mention it signals everybody in the county there is a single woman living in the woods.
[QUOTE=Alagirl;5148264]
one more thing: Is it normal in Maine to put a suspect’s name, age and address into the paper before charges have been filed or court precedings initiated?
I mean, that’s almost like an invitation to every lowlife in town to go clean out the property! not to mention it signals everybody in the county there is a single woman living in the woods.[/QUOTE]
It seems to be. :sigh:
[QUOTE=Lieslot;5147930]
I still don’t get how someone can afford vet & farrier care + upkeep of 6 horses, when they haul kerosone to heat & use a generator for electricity. Or is life different in rural areas?[/QUOTE]
Yes, it’s VERY different in rural areas. Plenty of people choose to live off the grid. Not because they can’t afford it, but because they want to.
Oftentimes electric service on rural roads around here is not trustworthy, and many folks decide to run off of solar/generators/wind to cut costs, or to have a more reliable source than the local power company (which charges an arm and a leg around here to begin with). Remember, pp’s pipes froze solid during an ice storm up here a couple years ago - with no generator, she had no way to keep them heated. And the aftermath of an ice storm isn’t exactly the time to go and buy a generator. So perhaps she decided to be self-sufficient. It’s happens a lot up here in this state.
Maine is a rural State with a lower income average than many. Plenty of people live in mobile homes and haul their own fuel instead of paying the oil company or electric company. It’s verrrryyy different from many other states.
Appjumper08, I really respect you for standing by PP and even extending an offer to go with your SO to help her out.
Yes, I also agree, there seem to be more pressing cases, so this does seem a bit questionable. Yes, intervention needed to occur if the horses had no water available, but actually going and taking the horses seemed a bit extreme, especially when we know how costly it is to keep a horse. I don’t think the town of Dedham is doing so great they want to spend that kind of money.
Also agree that its not November yet and no requirement for shelter.
I suppose we are all just going to have to wait to hear more. I find this just plain old sad that it is one of us.
Regardless, I am sure this is absolutely heartbreaking for PP, since she certainly posted about her love for her animals.
Its just so darn hard to ask for help, or to even hire help. Given other factors and easy to get in over your head and then not know how to get out. It is true, we all need to watch out for others, and just do…go bring some electric tape,rope, wire, etc, bring an extra charger, whatever. Bring old pails and buckets. We have become a society where we don’t really go out of our way to help, but ignore or drive by. that is why I appreciate your offer to go help PP.
I think I am about 5 hours away and cannot take that kind of time away from my own farm, so appreciate that you have stepped up.
I am not backstepping on my concerns, but making a random comment about our society.
You insinuated that because you have had horses get out then it will happen no matter what you do. So why even bother with good fencing is the natural response.
Has anyone seen or spoken with PP today? I am so worried about her.
I hate how that local media has sensationalized (word?) the whole thing.
‘taking the horses to an undisclosed location’. Who would want to hear that?
Does AC in that county have a barn/holding facility? It is one thing to have your horses in a barn like what Houston SPCA has - and know or have a visual of the facility. But to not know where they are? I know the terms ‘undisclosed location’ is used but geez - why in this case?
I have about 2600ft of electrobraid and tape fencing that i just took down that i will happily donate if there is an effort to repair fencing. I believe i’m roughly 10hrs from PP, and not at a point in time i can pick up and take a road trip. But will happily ship it.
Okay, I went from hoping against hope that PP would show up here to defend herself with the full story -
To hoping that even after any legal ramifications of her posting here are nullified, she doesn’t bother.
Because NONE OF YOU DESERVE IT.
Just watched an interesting show on the Romans, where I shuddered in horror at the obvious glee in the actor-spectator faces when the complete stranger was torn apart by the lions or set on fire and burnt to death in the arena.
Then I recalled this thread, and realized -
We apparently haven’t changed. Apparently not most of us.
BURN you witch, BURN!!! Yeeehawwwww… (decades later, oh, you mean she wasn’t actually a witch? bummer for her… but it was fun to cheer on her roasting, wasn’t it!!!)
PP, do what you have to do, but please, don’t ever bother to give us obvious witch burning spectators a single clue. Judging by the majority of posts on this thread, we very obviously do not deserve it.
Your lack of information will of course irritate the spectators, but once they are done circling the blackened stake with your as of yet unjudged remains, they will get bored, I assure you.
A new victim will be the latest joy ride by then, I assure you!
Even more likely, the new victim will quite most likely be -
-cue shuddering, yet delighted sounds of feigned horror from the future spectators! -
ONE OF THEM
