Wet Nose saves 13 more equines from the brink of death
Wet Nose saved 13 equines from a farm in Zeekoegat from death.
Wet Nose Animal Rescue carried out a warrant granted by the magistrate’s court in Cullinan on September 29 to remove seven horses and six donkeys from a property in Zeekoegat.
A complaint was received from numerous people that the owners of these equines were barely giving any care to their horses and donkeys. It was reported that they resided under horrible conditions (in a scrap yard with little natural grazing).
Animals removed were severely emaciated and malnourished to the point where any of these animals could collapse at any moment.
The morning of the rescue came along with good news that they would be receiving help from two other horse owners, with their vehicles and horseboxes.
Their help was instrumental in both finding and rescuing the horses, as well as the transportation of these poor animals.
Veronica van Greunen, inspector at Wet Nose, said they had to pause the rescue and amend their warrant when they realised the address they received was incorrect.
“This was brought on by the absolute refusal of the owners to work with us in any way. They insisted that we would not take their horses.
“As the animals had been fed already, they insisted that their horses were healthy and checked by a vet, and they insisted that Wet Nose only wanted these animals to resell them for profit.
“If they had taken care of their horses, they would know how much these animals require in upkeep, never mind to be saved when they have been so mistreated.”
Wet Nose has doubled its number of equines in the last three weeks, leading to a total of 78.
“We would prefer not to have so many animals, but there was no chance that we would just leave these animals to suffer because of their expense,” said Van Greunen.
With the warrant amended, they were finally able to start saving lives.
Their first task was to gather up all the donkeys and although they are usually very hardy animals, these donkeys were struggling to even walk to the horse boxes.
Many of the donkeys were very stubborn and scared but with some encouragement and help to prevent falling, they were able to make it.
“Due to their dire condition, they were immediately sent to Wet Nose to receive treatment and food.”
While this was happening, another team broke off in search of the seven horses. According to Van Greunen, the accused used the time it took for the warrant to be amended to scatter their horses all over the massive Zeekoegat area.
The Wet Nose team easily found the first three horses of which the oldest was badly malnourished and standing in the blazing sun.
“While rescuing this poor old lady, the owners kept ranting about how their lawyer was going to get us in court, and how all we want to do is sell their horses for profit.
“The next horse that was found, is currently fighting for her life at the Wet Nose centre. She suffers from massive wounds, her bones jut out, and she is collapsing from being so underfed.
“On closer inspection of the next horse, the large animal vet found a long piece of wire lodged in this horse’s hoof, which she removed after two attempts.
“What was more shocking was how these owners reacted to their horses being boxed. Tensions were very high and it was not long before their berating of us turned to violence,” said Van Greunen.
Chanell Theart was assaulted. The police officers who accompanied the Wet Nose team intervened. The group then broke up into four teams that headed in different directions to search for the rest of the horses.
The first horse was found in a small forest, on a different property, close to a river. Van Greunen said the remaining three horses could not be found anywhere near the property.
They followed fresh horse tracks to another point in the river, about 3km from the property. The animals were eventually spotted across the river but quickly slipped from sight.
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“We managed to pinpoint the property on which the horses had been seen, and it wasn’t long before the Wet Nose team was knocking on the door of this new property where the horses were being hidden,” said Van Greunen.
According to her, the residents on this property were initially also being difficult but soon changed their tune when told that they were obstructing justice.
They then managed to find the last horses in need of urgent rescue.
“Anyone who has owned a horse can attest to the mass amount of funds needed to care for such a number of horses,” said Van Greunen.
They are going to need help to care for these animals, as the costs involved in rehabilitating these animals will be in the hundreds of thousands.
“We are pleading for any help that our community of animal lovers can offer.
“We need eragrostis, shavings, bandaging, fly spray, and most of all monetary donations to help us help these poor, mistreated animals.”
