146 Horses in Various Stages of Neglect; 6 Euthanized

UPDATE April 29, 2011 11 p.m.: The 133 horses were relocated by Days End Farm to their satellite facility and to Paradise Stables in Mt Airy; footage from Channel 13 WJZ.

Earlier in the week, the owner of the Polish Arabian breeding farm Canterbury (in Centreville, Queen Anne’s County, Maryland) voluntary relinquished 13 severely neglected and malnourished horses, 6 of which had to be immediately euthanized according to WJZ Channel 13.  133 horses in various stages of neglect and malnutrition remain on the farm. Authorities are considering criminal neglect charges.

According to Days End Farm Horse Rescue, which is helping to lead the multi-agency rescue effort, the impound is so large that private facilities are being solicited house, treat, and rehabilitate the animals.

Thirteen critical care cases are being transported to a Days End Farm Horse Rescue Satellite facility outside of Hagerstown. Paradise Stables in Mount Airy has agreed to accept up to 70 horses.

Days End Farm Horse Rescue is also working to find ways to defray the financial burden that each individual horse creates for the private farms accepting the horses.  The Humane Society of the United States will be assisting with the some of the initial costs and the initial veterinary services are being offered by a volunteer veterinarian corp.  However, additional monies will be needed to complete their rehabilitation, evaluation and eventual adoption. Days End estimates that the initial cost per horse in this condition for the first six months will be approximately $5,000. Days End is concerned that, with almost 150 animals and unknown health care needs, that costs over the next six months could top $1 million.

Channel 13 WJZ