MORE WOESNew report worsens loose horse problem

Published 11:43 am Tuesday, August 14, 2012

The day after Warren County Humane Society and law enforcement authorities complained publicly about problems with loose livestock roaming county roads, sheriff’s deputies answered a call of two horses, one of them injured, walking on Mallett Road.

“It was a 911 call Saturday night about 7:30,” said Georgia Lynn, Vicksburg Warren Humane Society director. “It was a bay mare and a white Shetland pony. We were able to catch the horse, but the pony went into the woods and is believed to still be there. We have been unable to find the owner.”

She said another horse was reported loose on Grange Hall Road, early Monday morning, but it was never found.

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The horse caught Saturday, she said, is blind in its left eye from a recent injury and has an older injury on its lower left hind leg by the hoof.

“The injury on the leg is old and has proud flesh,” she said. “That’s where the skin grows out of control. If it’s not treated, it can get this size,” she said, holding her hands about 8 inches apart.

She said the horse is “spooked. I don’t know if it’s because it’s blind in one eye or the pony was its friend and it misses it. Horses are herd animals, they do not do well alone.”

She said the humane society now is caring for eight horses on its property on U.S. 61 South at a cost of $25 per horse per day for food. She said owners of horses recovered by the Humane Society claim their horses after neighbors or sheriff’s deputies find them and tell them where they are.

“I’ve only had one owner come here asking if we had his horse.”

She said if the owner of the injured horse is not found within a week, she will see if the animal can be turned over to a new owner, but added that will depend on the condition of the horse and whether it is suitable for adoption.