|
|
Discussion on Horse Cruelity
|
| Author |
Message |
Member:
Gohlson
|
Posted on Wednesday, Oct 12, 2005 - 1:22 pm:
All,
I would like to bring to the attention to all members of Horse Advise the following news story which will hit to the bone each and every one of us who enjoys and owns horses.
I found this story while trying to locate a gaited mule for my wife to ride. Please read the following news stories and let your heart guide you in your actions. We can all use help every once in a while, but this woman needs our help today to save her horse and to force the local law enforcement officials to take action against the guilty parties involved in this heinous crime against a beautiful horse. Please make sure to add your name to the petition going to the local District Attorney's Office.
The full story can be found using this link:
https://www.chboa.com/dixie.html
Harnett Horse Subjected to Abuse
Erin O'Hearn
(08/25/05 - HARNETT COUNTY) - A horse is struggling to heal from burns after deputies in Harnett County say the horse's tail was set on fire. It happened at the Hamilton Stables, between Erwin and Dunn.
"It's gotta hurt." It's charred and coiled, and it's all that's left of Dixie's tail. The malicious act has left the horse handicapped, and in a tremendous amount of pain. "She will never be normal again. That's if she lives."
Vonda Hamilton says last weekend, she returned from a trip to Myrtle Beach to find her two-year-old horse with no tail and a festering wound. She believes Dixie's tail was coated with an accelerant and set on fire.
"She was in her pasture eating her grass, minding her business," Hamilton said. She does not know what would possess anyone to harm an animal. One that she describes as loving and sweet, an animal Hamilton thought of more like a child.
"My question is how would they feel if someone set their child on fire. Because That's what they did. They set a member of our family on fire."
Hamilton is angry and she's also tired. The veteran horse breeder gets up at 4 am and doesn't sit until the day is over. She constantly re-applies antibiotics so the infection so it doesn't get worse, but it has already spread to Dixie's hind legs. "It just doesn't look good."
Hamilton also cares for Dixie by coating her with fly replant because she no longer has a tail to swat the flies away. Through tears, Hamilton wonders how anyone could be so cruel. "She came up to them with trust. She wanted to be petted, she wanted to be loved by them and this is what she got. I don't think it's fair."
The Sheriff's Office says they have four suspects, all young girls between the ages of 12 and 15. They are being questioned at this time. Officials hope to press charges some time Friday.
|
New Member:
Sonoita
|
Posted on Wednesday, Oct 12, 2005 - 3:54 pm:
I hope they tar and feather them.This is so sad and makes me so mad. I will say a prayer for Dixie. These girls need to be punished in a way that lets everyone know it will not be tolerated.
Good luck,
|
Member:
Green007
|
Posted on Wednesday, Oct 12, 2005 - 4:16 pm:
I actually heard indirectly from the owner of this mare through another internet group where I am a member. The mare was sold and was supposed to go to her new home within the next few weeks, but the sale became void due to the tail issue.
Dixie's original owners/breeders are keeping her and doing whatever it takes to make her life comfortable. Apparently the tail had to be amputated. The amputation was so high up that there was not enough bone to put on an extension. I can't imagine being a horse and not being able to swat flies!
The breeder (forever owner now) reported that Dixie is doing well, and there have been court dates to try to punish the girls that did it. The girls apparently lied in court and failed lie detector tests. However, because they are under age 18, they have a lot of protection. Even if they are officially caught, the worst that happens is a nominal fine due to their age.
It is maddening, and the only thing I can say is that if I were the parent of one of these girls, there would be enough punishment at home that they would wish for jail.
|
Member:
Morg1
|
Posted on Wednesday, Oct 12, 2005 - 5:36 pm:
I dido that Debbie.
|
Member:
122756
|
Posted on Wednesday, Oct 12, 2005 - 6:22 pm:
It's sure hard to figure out how these girls could possibly be so cruel. Makes me wonder if they saw the movie The Brothers Grimm, recently in theaters. In this movie horses tails are "lit on fire" to make them run away. Of course, one would have to speculate that this was done via special visual effects/stunts, and not real fire. There was a lot of animal cruelty in that film.
|
Member:
Redalert
|
Posted on Wednesday, Oct 12, 2005 - 8:10 pm:
The powers that be in the District Attorney's office should be well aware that many criminals who go on to commit tortuous and henious acts upon humans, many times begin with cruel acts to animals ... the guilty parties should be prosecuted to the FULL EXTENT of the law, and should be kept on probation for a very long time. How absolutely repulsive and horribly cruel! I honestly believe that acts like this that go unpunished in this lifetime, will not go unpunished in the afterlife!
Nancy
|
Member:
Angel77
|
Posted on Thursday, Oct 13, 2005 - 3:24 am:
Dear Vonda,
I am so sorry for you and Dixie. I wrote the judge in your case. All I can say is I hope he takes heed in what I said.
My heart is breaking for you and Dixie. I am pulling for you both.
Crying,
WTG
|
Member:
Miamoo
|
Posted on Thursday, Oct 13, 2005 - 7:36 am:
We had an incident in my area a few years back. Some teenage boys decided to use some horses in a field for target practice. They shot two of them. One died and the other was severely injured. They got off with almost no punishment as they were under 18. The talk at the time was that even if they were adults there was not much muscle behind the law and they wouldn't have gotten much punishment!
We need to have these laws addressed in order to get these criminals off the streets!
Ella 
|
Member:
Ajudson1
|
Posted on Thursday, Oct 13, 2005 - 9:01 am:
Unbelievable. Where would kids get an idea like this? What kind of home do they come from? Society is full of people with no sense of right and wrong. And as long as those who do wrong get off easy, things like this will continue.
Our 2 older kids were major headaches. Children of divorce, anything went in their other homes. If they so much as stole a .50 item from the store when they were living with us, we marched them right back with it! Along with the merchants punishment, we gave out our own at home. I can't imagine what I would do if one of my kids committed such a horrible crime, or was even in with a group that did so. After a bare butt spanking, I think they'd move rocks from one pile to another, scrub every thing I could find that was washable, and copy down Bible verses. And then I'd have had them burn some of their personal things,(which wouldn't be replaced) and they'd learn fire safety at the same time.
Hang in there Vonda and Dixie.
We need some more icons, need some angels to put in here.
|
Member:
Cpacer
|
Posted on Thursday, Oct 13, 2005 - 9:20 am:
I thought all young girls loved horses! Unfortunately their parents probably don't care enough to punish them either if their actions are any indication of how they are being raised.
What a shame... (first reaction deleted)
How nice that Dixie is staying in the family--she will be a very special horse.
I'll spread the word to other NC people who can sign the petition for punishment.
|
Member:
Aannk
|
Posted on Thursday, Oct 13, 2005 - 9:51 am:
This is inexcusable! I also agree that when people do these things to animals, they seem to be the ones who go on to do them to humans. I wonder if we will ever be able to prosecute younger folks the way they deserve to be? I know when I was younger I still knew the difference between right and wrong. Maybe when you are younger than 4 you might have a hard time, but 12 through 15?
Off my soapbox.
I hope Dixie recovers enough to live at least a happy pain free life!
Alicia
|
Member:
Myharley
|
Posted on Thursday, Oct 13, 2005 - 10:27 am:
My heart goes out to you Vonda and Dixie, this incident has left me speachless. I am an animal lover from way back with horses(2) one of them totally blind and both being rescues, cats (13)of which all were DrOp offs, dogs (2) and a bird and believe me if anyone harmed any of them in any way and I found out who they were, they would never make if before the judge, I'd see to that. I do not believe in cruelty to animals and won't stand by and let it happen. Some people have even called me a linatic because I will swerve to miss any animal on the highway and I will stop traffic to rescue an injured one in the highway. My heart goes out to you, please let me know if there is anything than can be done.
Sandy
|
Member:
Mrose
|
Posted on Thursday, Oct 13, 2005 - 6:58 pm:
I have been too speechless and stunned to even write about this. I just can't understand such a thing! I wonder if the girls involved come from abusive homes? My mind wants there to be some "reason" behind this. My heart goes out to Vonda; and to poor Dixie.
If someone did something like that, or harmed my animals in any way I can't imagine how angry and upset I'd be. I know if I saw them I'd be screaming out the door with the scatter gun, or trusty .39 revolver, and I wouldn't hesitate to use it! I wouldn't go to jail for it, either; not in Utah! I'd have people out helping hunt the bas....ds down. People in this part of the country take it "real personal" when you attack their livestock...and horses are considered livestock.
Kids...I'd use the scattergun to scare them to death, and then they'd be doing time in detention. I'm sorry, but stuff like this just makes my blood boil! I know it does the same for the rest of you, too. What is wrong with our society anyway? With the girls? Their parents? The local law enforcement? Unbelievable!!
|
Member:
Ajudson1
|
Posted on Friday, Oct 14, 2005 - 8:00 am:
Sandra;
We need more people like you who are indeed Angels on Earth.
Sara;
I love it that you are on our side with your attitude and guns!!
Anyone:
Is there anything we can do from other states?
Any update on what is happening with the suspects?
And please keep us updated on how Dixie is doing.
|
Member:
Mrose
|
Posted on Friday, Oct 14, 2005 - 9:30 am:
Angie - did you go to the website in the first post? There are the latest updates posted. It seems like Dixie is doing very good considering what she has been through. There is also a place where you can make donations towards Dixie's care and medical bills.
I am normally a very sweet, calm, non-violent person. Just don't mess with my family-including my animals! And nothing makes me angrier than abuse to children and animals.
|
Member:
Cpacer
|
Posted on Friday, Oct 14, 2005 - 1:21 pm:
Angie, probably wouldn't hurt to write to the the DA, the Mayor, and others listed at the bottom of that page just to emphasize.
Sara, I remember reading something about those laws in Utah---I could live with that!
|
Member:
Chrism
|
Posted on Friday, Oct 14, 2005 - 4:36 pm:
I do not understand why the girl's parents are not libel for Dixie's vet care.
Perhaps a civil suit to recover cost of immediate care, loss of use/value, and long term care would be able to stick - I wonder if the lie detector test would be admissible then.
I do know from being a juror multiple times that the burden of proof is different in civil cases than in criminal cases.
I think the story is just sickening. Poor horse.
|
Member:
Ajudson1
|
Posted on Friday, Oct 14, 2005 - 6:54 pm:
Thanks Sara for pointing out to go back to the original website. I remember clicking on the link, and it didn't load...(my isp is not functioning 50% of the time)
I have forwarded the site to many of my horse loving friends and I am sure this will help get more people involved with letters to the right people and donations.
This may seem a little off subject here, but I feel this is important to add:
There is a wonderful book out called "Mind Seige" by Tim Lahaye, one of the authors of "The left Behind" series. It's an older book, but it's all about Humanism and basically anything wrong is right, and anything goes in society because we don't have Jesus in our lives, or the church, etc. I am not saying this to go off on a Religous angle here, but rather because it seems that this story of animal abuse is a perfect example of what the authors were talking about. We need to keep pushing to get incidents like this punished, and get values back in our schools, and our lives, so a child wouldn't even think of such an act!!
O.K., I'll step down now before I really get going.
|
Member:
Mrose
|
Posted on Saturday, Oct 15, 2005 - 8:38 pm:
Angie - imo that is exactly the problem - regardless of one's religious leanings; it seems like there are neither mores nor morals sometimes. I guess people like this have always been around, but sometimes when you read the paper and here the news it just makes you wonder. I'm glad there are so many caring people on this board, and that I mean so many good people at shows, the vet's, and other farms. It helps to balance out the "bad."
|
Member:
Sunny66
|
Posted on Sunday, Oct 16, 2005 - 9:55 am:
I've heard of this elsewhere, and my heart goes out to the horse and owner. I agree with Chris that the girls' parents should at least cover the vet costs...and since the girls don't seem to be getting any punishment, the parents need to take the punishment into their own hands.
|
Member:
Lynnea
|
Posted on Sunday, Oct 16, 2005 - 2:22 pm:
I read that article also and was deeply saddened for that poor sweet horse. To be so cruel to an innocent creature is unforgiveable. To have had the act performed by young girls I found almost unbelievable. Usually they love horses ...but these are not usual times. What the youth of today is exposed to in movies, TV, video games...the news , I believe is desensitizing minds and hearts to violence and promoting the loss of compassion and empathy. I am in no way excusing these girls..I would ask they be punished as adults as if that beautiful horse they maimed were an innocent child. Some day that just may be the case. They need to pay a heavy price for what they did. My horses are so precious to me, I can't even imagine what I would have done if I had caught them.
|
Member:
Dyduroc
|
Posted on Sunday, Oct 16, 2005 - 4:57 pm:
When I first read about this incident a few weeks ago, I thought it had to be a sick joke because it was too incredible to believe. How I wish that was true!
Debbie, thank you for the update on Dixie. It's such a relief to know she survived and is recovering.
As far as the girls go, they deserve to be punished--severely! How else are they going to learn accountability? They should also be court ordered to undergo psychiatric evaluation and counseling.
And yes, the parents should be made to pay the vet bills and for Vonda's loss.
I'm left to wonder if this is just an isolated incident of unspeakable cruelty or whether it's a symptom of some deep-seated cancer eating away at the moral fiber and humanity in this country. Makes my head hurt to think about it.
D.
|
Member:
Gohlson
|
Posted on Monday, Oct 17, 2005 - 10:38 am:
All,
I am posting this on behalf of Dixie's owner.
-------------------------------------------
Hello all,
Dr. Garrett just left and I have bad news. Dixie has been itching on her derriere and for the last couple days I have been noticing a small amount of drainage. She has had a new drainage track open up, it evidently was resistant the antibiotics that I was giving her. So we are back to flushing the track with antibiotics and inserting antibiotics into the track. We are going to try that for a few days if that doesn't work and IV may be necessary or we may have to cut it open and take out the track completely.
So Please pray that these antibiotics will heal it. Pretty much we are back to almost where we were on Sept 5th. I am going to change my middle name to Frustrated. Nothing seems to be going our way.
Legally, I found out today that their is a cap on the amount that we can sue the parents. We may only sue each parent for no more than $2,000 a piece.
So if each of the four girls had to pay maximum amount (they seem to think that won't happen) it would only be $8000 total, less court cost, attorney fees, depositions, are you getting the picture. We have to pay all lawyer fees up front and other cost up front. NOT POSSIBLE! After today not much looks possible. So in a nut shell we have a horse that may cost well over $50,000 to up keep if she lives to only her teens. We will never be reimbursed for what they did, and they will never have to pay for what they did. They cannot go to jail, they cannot go to juvenile center and since they are young they are not held responsible for their action. Because they have rights as juveniles. We as the victims have no rights because we were made victims by juveniles.
Many of you asked me when I was going to get mad. I am MAD, I am FURIOUS.
As it stands right now I need to sell one horse every month just to pay for Dixie's medical expenses. I have 13 mares. I guess that means I will technically be out of business by 2007. Mad you bet I am mad! I lose the only thing that I ever wanted to be, the only thing that I ever wanted to do
with my life was raise horses. Mad?????? Yes!!!!! I wish they had set me
on fire, instead of Dixie! It would have hurt me less than to gradually lose my family one by one.
Thanks for all you have done. Thanks for listening and thanks for praying.
We need a miracle here. Please pray for a miracle!
Vonda
Hamilton Stables
Breeders of Spotted Saddle Horses
www.hamiltonstables.com
Home of Magics Golden Flash
|
Member:
Morg1
|
Posted on Monday, Oct 17, 2005 - 5:53 pm:
I am so sorry for everything that you are going through. I wish I had the money to help you out. All I can do is pray for you, your horse, and a change in the laws concerning animal abuse by minors.
|
Member:
Vrich
|
Posted on Monday, Oct 17, 2005 - 9:29 pm:
I need to express my strongly held beliefs here. This situation is deplorable, unthinkable, and should be severely punished. Additionally, I believe that the girls involved need counseling. One need not be religious to have strong ethics, rigorous principles, and a will to improve the world. I am an educator, as well. Schools are doing what they can to instill strong ethical principles in children. Here in Maine, character education is a legislative requirement, as well as a social imperative. We can only do so much. This kind of education needs to happen at home as well.
|
Member:
Mrose
|
Posted on Monday, Oct 17, 2005 - 10:28 pm:
Val- you've got that right! It has everything to ! Don't get me on another soapbox. I have really strong feelings about the responsibilities of families and children! I think the parents should be held responsible and these girls need counciling at the least!
|
Member:
Leilani
|
Posted on Monday, Oct 17, 2005 - 11:38 pm:
It is strange that with all of the empirical evidence linking the abuse of animals to later abuse of people that the state/county is not handling this differently. Granted, I am only reading second hand reports, but this is textbook abuse. Until people are held accountable for their actions, nothing will change. We need to
vote for people that will change such legislation.
Just my opinion in light of a former Hawai'i state veterinarian selling 2 horses to people that were
having a lu'au. He says he is not culpable
because he did not slaughter the horses...
|
Member:
Vrich
|
Posted on Tuesday, Oct 18, 2005 - 6:39 am:
I think it should be suggested to the judge in this case that the girls serve time working in a shelter for abused animals. It is by knowing pain and suffering that you best understand it. They need to internalize the agony that they are responsible for causing - at least on a psychological level. I wonder if they could be forced to raise money in some way to help with medical costs? If it wouldn't be so painful to have to see them face to face, I'd want them to have to be there with the vet, participate in the treatment, really understand what they did. What leads someone to perform such a perverse act?
|
Member:
Ajudson1
|
Posted on Tuesday, Oct 18, 2005 - 8:08 am:
Val,
I so agree with what you are saying. These girls sound like so many of our children: They have way too many things, not enough responsibility, and no idea that the world doesn't revolve around them. Until they see first hand abused animals, or suffer some way themselves, they just won't get it. And in these cases usually the parents are more of the problem than the kids themselves!
You sound like a great person to have in our schools.
|
Member:
Gohlson
|
Posted on Wednesday, Oct 19, 2005 - 10:37 am:
This is the 2 Month Update from Dixie's owner. I will try my best to upload Dixie's pictures once I have them reduced in size.
-------------------------------------------------
Today is October 19th, and it has been two months since Dixie was burned. She is still taking antibiotics daily and she is still trying very hard to resume a normal life.
There have been no arrests. The Sheriff’s Department is frustrated now. Monday the lady that I told you guys about a month ago (the one whose son had heard the whole chilling tale, but was afraid to get involved) once again refused to show up for questioning. This is the same lady that has been saying she could not meet up with the Detective. Unfortunately she must not have been trying, like she led me to believe. The Detective called me yesterday to let me know that she missed her appointment on Monday. Please pray that people will do the right thing, not what is convenient. We have too many people out there in this world that are to scared or don't care to be honest and do what is right. Several children have come forward but none have heard it first hand, so the Sheriff’s department cannot use their testimonies. If these children have had the courage to come forward please pray that this boy will have some of their courage and his parents (his father is a police officer in a neighboring town) will encourage him to be the kind of citizen that this country needs.
I am enclosing two photos of Dixie taken yesterday. Her swelling is down considerably but still has a ways to go. Her limp is getting some better. Her derriere is looking better except for the new track that has opened and you can see it if you look closely. There is drainage in the photo and just above that will be the track. I am still medicating her religiously. This is the track that will need to be surgically removed if we cannot get it to close with antibiotics. Please pray the antibiotics work. Dixie has endured so very much all ready.
Please continue to pray for her recovery. Dixie has come such a long way thanks to all of your love and prayers. We honestly would not be here without you. So God Bless You All!!!! Thank you for being a constant support for Dixie and our family these past two months. Please keep the prayers coming we still have a ways to go. We need your prayers for her continued recovery and also please pray very hard that these girls will finally be brought to justice.
Have a good day and God Bless You All!
Vonda and Dixie
Many hugs and juicy slobbers!
Hamilton Stables
Breeders of Spotted Saddle Horses
www.hamiltonstables.com
Home of Magics Golden Flash
|
Member:
Gohlson
|
Posted on Wednesday, Oct 19, 2005 - 11:54 am:
Here is the picture of Dixie from her owner.
|
Member:
Gohlson
|
Posted on Wednesday, Oct 19, 2005 - 11:55 am:
The second one.
|
Member:
Cpacer
|
Posted on Wednesday, Oct 19, 2005 - 1:18 pm:
What a pretty girl!! I saw the video of before her tail was removed and this looks like a huge improvement.
Do you know if enough donations are coming in to help out?
|
Member:
Miamoo
|
Posted on Wednesday, Oct 19, 2005 - 2:08 pm:
Does she still have muscle movement and nerve supply to the area at all? What is the possibility of a prosthetic tail so she could swish flies? Is research advanced to that?
Ella
|
Member:
Tangoh
|
Posted on Wednesday, Oct 19, 2005 - 3:25 pm:
Can't they give her some kind of prosthetic tail? Her whole hind end is so exposed...will she ever be able to have any kind of quality turnout without a tail...or something besides loading her up with repellent to keep bugs away???? I don't imagine it would be good to expose that tender area under the tail to the sun either?
I just can't even fathom what kind of human being ( and I use that term loosely) does this! It leaves me completely and utterly speechless.
|
Member:
Green007
|
Posted on Wednesday, Oct 19, 2005 - 3:34 pm:
Sherri and Ella,
Unless something has changed, the last I heard the tail had to be amputated so far up into the muscle that there is no way to attach a prosthetic tail. From what I understand, prosthetic tails have to be attached to a tail bone, and she simply doesn't have one.
It really is sad and distressing.
|
|
|
