Wild Horses Found Dead In Southeastern Kentucky

[luvmytbs]

http://www.lex18.com/news/wild-horses-found-dead-in-southeastern-kentucky

HARLAN, Ky. (AP) - Dozens of wild horses have been shot to death in southeastern Kentucky.

Harlan County Humane Society CEO Marcella Chadwick says the organization is offering a $500 reward for information leading to conviction in the deaths of the 28 horses.

Chadwick told the Harlan Daily Enterprise she was contacted Friday by people who live in the Bledsoe area about 12 miles northwest of Harlan. She said mares and foals were shot and left to die.

The Humane Society stepped in a couple of years ago when a coal company wanted to move the horses. Chadwick said then the company dropped the effort and the horses were thriving.
Anyone with information should contact the Humane Society at (606) 573-0016 or any law enforcement agency.

[charismaryllis]

And no one will ever be caught, and no one will ever be prosecuted:mad:

[FalseImpression]

oh no… in Kentucky… what a horsey state indeed… they can be so proud of themselves!! argh…

[msj]

Geeze, a whole $500 reward! You’d think a state that probably relies on breeding and selling horses could afford a bit more. I do hope more money is donated the fund.

[luvmytbs]

[h=5]Zack Adkins[/h]18 hours ago near Harlan, KY · Edited

Im madder today than I have been in a long time. Here in Harlan some of you may know about the Wild Horses of Dingo. Roughly 200 horses live there on a mountain and the families who own the property allow them. Justice coal company wanted the horses removed and to my knowledge slaughtered a couple of years ago. The Humane Society stepped in and saved them and took responsibility of them. I have po…sted many photos. Someone has went over there and shot and killed 28 horses. Mostly mothers and babies. I am sick and disgusted anyone in this county would be such a coward to do what they have done. My heart is absolutely broken. We have a $500 reward for anyone who knows anything that would lead to convicting these cowards. Jail time is too good for them in my opinion. If anyone wants to donate to help up that reward, please let us know. We are also selling calendars as a fundraiser, but maybe if we sell them we can put that money toward the reward. Please if you know anything please let me, Marcella Chadwick, Jeannie Hickey or the police know! Someone has to have heard gunshots or saw something. Dont stand by and watch it keep going. — with Harlan Humane.

[luvmytbs]

With video:

http://www.lex18.com/news/38-wild-horses-believed-to-have-been-shot-dead/?fb_action_ids=10202757313516257&fb_action_types=og.comments&fb_source=other_multiline&action_object_map=[814007588632069]&action_type_map=["og.comments"]&action_ref_map=[]

38 Wild Horses Believed To Have Been Shot Dead

For decades, wild horses have been known to roam the part of Straight Creek in Harlan County known as Dingo. On Friday, though, that same area was noticeably quiet.

Marcella Chadwick, the president of the Harlan County Humane Society told LEX 18 that at least 38 of the horses seemingly vanished over the last four days. Chadwick said folks in the area reported seeing the animals gunned down.

“People come visit these horses,” Chadwick told LEX 18. “They bring apples. They bring treats. And they said, you know we were over there and did you know there’s several horses laying over there dead and they’ve been shot?”

Heading up the investigation, State Police confirm at least one of the horses was found dead. The others, they said, are still unaccounted for, as of Friday night.

However, a foul smell in the air, along with some other factors, have led Chadwick to believe those nearly 40 horses were shot and killed.

“I don’t know how else they would die. 38 horses can’t just fall over dead,” Chadwick said.

While crews Friday searched an estimated 5,000 acres looking for any sign of the missing horses, they said they will likely pick up that search of the remaining 5,000 acres on Saturday.

The Humane Society, with help from the community, is offering a $4,100 reward for information in the case that leads to an arrest and conviction. That reward continues to grow.

[Alagirl]

[QUOTE=msj;7727254]
Geeze, a whole $500 reward! You’d think a state that probably relies on breeding and selling horses could afford a bit more. I do hope more money is donated the fund.[/QUOTE]

it’s from the humane society I assumed.
I think Eastern Kentucky is rather rural…my guess is, besides that’s all they can afford to spare without compromising operations, is that this money goes a long way in those parts…

[luvmytbs]

[QUOTE=Alagirl;7727338]
it’s from the humane society I assumed.
I think Eastern Kentucky is rather rural…my guess is, besides that’s all they can afford to spare without compromising operations, is that this money goes a long way in those parts…[/QUOTE]

It’s the Harlan County Humane Society, just to make that clear.

And they are now up to over $ 4,000.

[ahf]

[QUOTE=msj;7727254]
Geeze, a whole $500 reward! You’d think a state that probably relies on breeding and selling horses could afford a bit more. I do hope more money is donated the fund.[/QUOTE]

Harlan, KY is located in the coal fields of Kentucky. According to wiki, it’s lost nearly half of it’s population since 1990. A QUARTER of it’s families, and 32% (!!!) of the population live below the poverty line.

[msj]

[QUOTE=luvmytbs;7727353]
It’s the Harlan County Humane Society, just to make that clear.

And they are now up to over $ 4,000.[/QUOTE]

Good. I’m glad to see this and I do hope that even if " A QUARTER of it’s families, and 32% (!!!) of the population live below the poverty line," I would hope that other counties in KY would also contribute to the fund.

OP if you could post the mailing address and phone number of the Humane Society so others reading this post can contribute, I would appreciate it. When Dade County in FL was having all the horses butchered back several yrs ago, I sent down a nice donation and will gladly contribute to Harlan Co. Humane Society fund to find the person(s) responsible for the shooting.

Thank you in advance.

[luvmytbs]

This is from their FB page:

Harlan County Humane Society
167 Belkway Dr
Harlan, Kentucky 40831

Phone (606) 573-0016

And this is their non-profit status:

Employer Identification Number (EIN) 611205921
Name of Organization Harlan County Humane Society Inc
Address PO BOX 844, Harlan, KY 40831-0844
Subsection Educational Organization
Ruling Date 10/2012
Contributions are deductible

That area is very, very poor.
The community cares a lot about these horses and $ 4,000 is a big chunk of money for them to have contributed.
A few years ago (two maybe) they were in a huge battle with the mining company which wanted to remove the horses.

[ahf]

[QUOTE=msj;7727457]
Good. I’m glad to see this and I do hope that even if " A QUARTER of it’s families, and 32% (!!!) of the population live below the poverty line," I would hope that other counties in KY would also contribute to the fund.

OP if you could post the mailing address and phone number of the Humane Society so others reading this post can contribute, I would appreciate it. When Dade County in FL was having all the horses butchered back several yrs ago, I sent down a nice donation and will gladly contribute to Harlan Co. Humane Society fund to find the person(s) responsible for the shooting.

Thank you in advance. :)[/QUOTE]

I think your donation to the Harlan Humane Society is a thoughtful and wonderful gesture. Please consider not putting any stipulation on how the money is used. This area of the country doesn’t have the resources to take care of it’s human population, much less the animal population.

[luvmytbs]

http://middlesborodailynews.com/news/home_top-news/50382133/Wild-horses-at-Dingo-shot-to-death#.U_jBVrkg8qR

Over two dozen wild horses that roam an area of Straight Creek known as Dingo are reportedly dead.

Marcella Chadwick, CEO of the Harlan County Humane Society, said a total of 28 horses had been discovered dead as of Friday afternoon.

“People that live over there keep us informed as to what’s going on with the horses because we’re kind of over them (the horses) now,” said Chadwick. “They called me this morning and they’ve found mares and foals that have been shot and just left. They’re dead. It’s been probably two days ago when they were shot.”

Chadwick said the Humane Society is offering a reward for information leading to the conviction of the person or persons responsible for killing the horses.

“We’re doing a $3,000 reward,” said Chadwick.

Chadwick said the reward will be paid upon conviction.

“They can’t just come and tell me, they’ve got to be willing to go to court,” said Chadwick.

Chadwick said the horses appear to have been shot with a firearm powerful enough to go all the way through the animals.

“We fought tooth and nail to keep those horses from going to slaughter,” said Chadwick.

A previous report states the horses were the center of a disagreement between the Harlan County Humane Society and Sequoia Energy over whether the horses would have to be moved from the Dingo area they have occupied for decades.

“The only way we can stop this is if the public helps us,” said Chadwick. “It’s a cruel, sick thing for somebody to do. Some of the horses were gut shot so it’s taken days for them to die, which is cruel and inhumane. These horses aren’t bothering anybody, they’re up on top of a mountain. We need the public’s help.”

Kentucky State Police Det. Craig Miller is investigating the report of the missing horses. Miller said around 38 horses have been reported missing.

If anybody has any information about the incident, contact the Harlan County Humane Society at 606-573-0016 or any law enforcement agency.

[sdlbredfan]

I Googled Justice coal company, and holy cow, what a disgraceful sonofableep owner, and criminally negligent/blatant in disregard for laws company.

[ejm]

Justice Coal Company is owned by Jim Justice, who also owns and races Thoroughbreds under the name of Justice Family Racing.

[Alagirl]

Hold your horses though…
Col Company =/= shooters at this point though.

[Marshfield]

[QUOTE=ahf;7727360]
Harlan, KY is located in the coal fields of Kentucky. According to wiki, it’s lost nearly half of it’s population since 1990. A QUARTER of it’s families, and 32% (!!!) of the population live below the poverty line.[/QUOTE]

While I wouldn’t exactly condone it, I could understand if folks were shooting horses and using them as a food source. But to shoot them in the gut and just leave them to die a miserable death is sick and inhumane

[Alagirl]

[QUOTE=Marshfield;7731932]
While I wouldn’t exactly condone it, I could understand if folks were shooting horses and using them as a food source. But to shoot them in the gut and just leave them to die a miserable death is sick and inhumane[/QUOTE]
Indeed. :no:

[ahf]

[QUOTE=Marshfield;7731932]
While I wouldn’t exactly condone it, I could understand if folks were shooting horses and using them as a food source. But to shoot them in the gut and just leave them to die a miserable death is sick and inhumane[/QUOTE]

Holy crap! That was NOT my point!

[Marshfield]

These horses sound very treasured. I knew there were parts of Tennessee and Kentucky who were in rough shape economically, but had no idea that it was as bad as cited (which I have no reason to doubt). It’s clear that the Humane Society is doing their best. It just seems such a waste (in addition to being inhumane) for the horses to die as they have. If they had to die, if they could have helped someone in need, then they’re deaths wouldn’t have been so senseless. I in no way meant to imply that the residents in the area were acting in any type of inappropriate manner.