The Best Little Horse House in Hastings, Inc. is not licensed, certified, or authorized to investigate animal abuse or neglect cases and we fully support law enforcement officials in this role. No horse rescue or equine welfare organization in the State of Nebraska has any further powers over local law enforcement than you do or than we do.
If you are IN the State of Nebraska, know that law enforcement, according to Nebraska Statutes is the only authority allowed to investigate animal cruelty or neglect cases, and is the only authority that can issue a citation in a case like this. Many county sheriff departments within the State are unqualified in equine husbandry, or just refuse to investigate due to lack of concern over horses.
If you suspect a horse is being abused or neglected, or if you see a horse that is in obvious need of medical care, please contact your local animal control office or humane society if you are OUTSIDE of the State of Nebraska. They will be able to either investigate the issue or direct you to the appropriate authority in your area to get the situation investigated.
Photo above: Pregnant Mare in Nebraska with spinal column protruding. Unfortunately, she was kept in a county that has a lack of regard for horses, and no investigation was ever started or completed in a timely manner to help these horses.
If law enforcement officials are already involved in cases, and the situation is not getting better, then it is advisable to contact media personnel or an animal welfare organization closest to the location where the abuse and/or neglect is taking place to ask law enforcement to do something more about the situation. From past experience, we have learned that few county sheriff's offices are willing to pay attention, even if multiple organizations and individuals get involved.
Photo above: Horse still with winter coat, which masks the severity of his condition. Visible is the protruding spinal column, ribs, and pencil neck.
The Sheriff of this county became angry when asked to do something to help these horses, and yelled profane names at those asking for his help.
Picture left: Dead foal lay in the only water source for the horses. Based on the condition of all of the other horses on the property, we can assume this foal died due to emaciation. The Sheriff's Department in this county refused to get the veterinarain out to the property in a timely manner.
This chart is a scientific method, and is what Sheriff's Departments and others can (but often do not) use as a tool in assessing the condition of a horse.
Unfortunately, Nebraska laws are weak. The laws are putting the lives of neglected horses in the hands of a single entity that may or may not even be qualified or have any experience with horses to make an accurate assessment. Others that do have experience will not do anything because they say "if the horses were really starving, they would have eaten all of their manure on the property (quoted from the Nebraska State county in quesiton's Sheriff's Departments)while dead horses lay in the pasture, and others are starving.
On the same property, it is clear that others who are pregnant have spines protruding, ribs showing, and pelvic bones sticking out with no water, no food, and no help. These horses were moved over county lines while one Sheriff's department refused to respond when notified, and these horses are back in the care of their neglectful owner, who does this to these horses year after year. You can only hope that you live in a county that will act on behalf of the horses, and write to your State government to get the laws changed!
The Best Little Horse House in Hastings, Inc. Joins Animal Planet's R.O.A.R. campaign
The Best Little Horse House in Hastings, Inc. is committed to humane treatment of horses. We believe in training with kindness and partnering with your horse. We have joined the R.O.A.R. campaign through the Animal Planet website and have committed to reaching out to animals in need and making a difference in the lives of the animals that we help. Join this campaign yourself. You dont have to be a specialist or an expert in order to make a difference in the life of an animal.
