The Louisiana Horse Rescue was contacted by the Sabine Humane Society to help them with a 60 horse seizure in Many, La. They in turn contact us for assistance and with the help of Shannon Rojas, the LSU veterinary team, and many, many others we have succeeding in removing horses from the property.
Early January 2012 a warrant was issued for the arrest of Charles Ray Ford, a thoroughbred owner and breeder based in Many, Louisiana. He has been charged with multiple counts of animal cruelty for the abuse and starvation of over 60 living horses in his possession. The sad fact being more than 25 were found dead on the property, countless were already buried. In addition to the horses there were also starving dogs, goats, pigs and cattle on the property. Several dead dogs were still in their kennels.
Young thoroughbred gelding, now in the care of Remember Me Rescue
WARNING
THE PHOTOS BELOW ARE DISTURBING AND SOME MAY NOT WANT TO VIEW THEM.
As of now all horses have been removed from Charles Fords property. Remember Me Rescue will be involved in rehabilitating, retraining, and rehoming many of the horses over the next several months and will be placing them in loving forever homes. Many of the mares are still resting at a farm in Alexandria where they are being fed and cared for until they can be placed with foster families. Hopefully several more of them will be arriving here at RMR over the next couple of weeks to begin their long journeys to recovery.
The mare on the right is still in Alexandria and is safe. She will be available for adoption after rest and evaluation.
The grey mare below is named Be Bop Baby. This 15 year old broodmare was said to be, 'Not too bad' by the trainer of many of the horses on the property, William (Bill) Young. He laughed when she was being difficult to catch stating she couldn't be too bad if she could still get away from me. She is now safe and is here at Remember Me Rescue. We are estimating at least 6 months of recovery time for this sweet girl. I will update as she progresses.
Join TEAM RESTART We need your monthly support more than ever.
The official body count of dead horses found in Sabine Parish has now grown 5-fold as of this weekend, and animal rescue crews continue to remove starved horses from an Ark-La-Tex ranch. That's where at least 25 horses have been found dead, in what some describe as a bone yard.
There were reportedly 53 mares on the ranch in 2010, and less than half can be found now. Of the 20 or so yearlings, only six can be found now. The Louisiana Horse Rescue Association and the Sabine Humane Society are working with volunteers and veterinarians to assess the condition of the horses that remain, many of which are clinging to life.
The horses that are healthy enough to move will be taken to the New Orleans area.
The Sabine Humane Society's abuse investigator says his agency, since November, has tried working with the owner to get the horses' food, but continued financial troubles finally led to a judge ordering removal of all the horses from the property. It's only then that the full scope of the neglect was discovered.
Sabine Parish District Attorney Don Burkett reportedly went to the site Saturday to check on the progress of the investigation and to see the carnage for himself first-hand. We're told that every horse affected, either deceased or starving, will carry a separate count of animal cruelty against the property owner.
KSLA News 12's Erin Stevenson is in Sabine Parish today speaking with folks with the rescue crews and will have the latest update on the case coming up on the Sunday edition of KSLA News 12 Weekend at 10.
Any size donation is very much appreciated. Every dollar counts. All donations are tax deductible. We are a recognized 501(c)3, EIN# 26-39764010
