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NC Triangle Region
December 16, 2010:
NC Randolph County Animal Control Services seized 3 horses December 2nd, following months of investigation and education, from a Sophia NC resident, Martha Montgomery. The horses were in poor weight condition, having deteriorated over the past several months. USERL was asked to house a stallion, above, who was kept in an unsanitary stall, underweight and with marked hoof overgrowth, deterioration and infection. The HERO's organization is sheltering the other two seized in the case. A veterinarian and farrier team worked on the stallion's hooves prior to transporting him to USERL due to his difficulty in walking/balancing during transportation. The stallion was then transported to the USERL - NC Triangle Region for rehabilitation. His hooves are infected from severe thrush, with the entire hoof frog eaten away, deep sulcus thrush in his heel bulbs and painful ulcerations in the soles of his hooves. Treatments of Epsom salt baths for the ulcerations, towel drying and a topical antibiotic/antifungal solution are helping with the pain, and with the healing.
The owner has been formerly charged with 2 counts of misdemeanor animal cruelty (14-360A) for the other two horses sheltered at HERO's, and one count Class H Felony (14-360B) for the stallion. The felony is being charged under the new “Suzy’s Law” passed on June 24, 2010, which increases the penalty for intentional cruel treatment to animals from a Class I Felony to a Class H Felony. The new law came into effect December 1, 2010.
USERL wishes to thank the Randolph County Animal Services for their perseverance in the case and assistance to these horses!
Donations are needed for the rehabilitation of all three horses. For donations for the stallion housed at the USERL - NC Triangle Region, click the paypal button below and note "Randolph County Case" in the notes.
NC Randolph County Animal Control Services seized 3 horses December 2nd, following months of investigation and education, from a Sophia NC resident, Martha Montgomery. The horses were in poor weight condition, having deteriorated over the past several months. USERL was asked to house a stallion, above, who was kept in an unsanitary stall, underweight and with marked hoof overgrowth, deterioration and infection. The HERO's organization is sheltering the other two seized in the case. A veterinarian and farrier team worked on the stallion's hooves prior to transporting him to USERL due to his difficulty in walking/balancing during transportation. The stallion was then transported to the USERL - NC Triangle Region for rehabilitation. His hooves are infected from severe thrush, with the entire hoof frog eaten away, deep sulcus thrush in his heel bulbs and painful ulcerations in the soles of his hooves. Treatments of Epsom salt baths for the ulcerations, towel drying and a topical antibiotic/antifungal solution are helping with the pain, and with the healing.
The owner has been formerly charged with 2 counts of misdemeanor animal cruelty (14-360A) for the other two horses sheltered at HERO's, and one count Class H Felony (14-360B) for the stallion. The felony is being charged under the new “Suzy’s Law” passed on June 24, 2010, which increases the penalty for intentional cruel treatment to animals from a Class I Felony to a Class H Felony. The new law came into effect December 1, 2010.
USERL wishes to thank the Randolph County Animal Services for their perseverance in the case and assistance to these horses!
Donations are needed for the rehabilitation of all three horses. For donations for the stallion housed at the USERL - NC Triangle Region, click the paypal button below and note "Randolph County Case" in the notes.
Photo courtesy of NC Randolph County Animal Services.
Photos courtesy of NC Randolph County Animal Services.
Right front hoof: grossly overgrown with severe deterioration of hoof structures, painful infection and ulcerations due to thrush.
Left hind hoof: grossly overgrown with severe deterioration of hoof structures and remants of ulceration due to thrush.
Arrival to USERL quarantine/rehab foster farm.
Randolph Co. Woman Charged for Neglecting Horses Under NC's New "Susie's Law"
We will keep you up to date on the progress of this case and the rehabilitation of this stallion.
December 17, 2010:
The stallion, now named "Red Butler", is doing very well. Below are some photos from today. It's too wet from the snow/ice/rain for him to go outside in the quarantine paddock (his hooves need to stay dry), so he's inside until it dries out some more.
The vet/farrier that worked on him in Randolph County did a great job trimming/treating his hooves! He'll need frequent trims to correct his hooves, especially his front right hoof (pictured below after the initial trim). "Red" is being scheduled for his next trim in a few weeks. The ulcerations in the soles of his hooves are responding very well to treatment and are much less painful now.
The stallion, now named "Red Butler", is doing very well. Below are some photos from today. It's too wet from the snow/ice/rain for him to go outside in the quarantine paddock (his hooves need to stay dry), so he's inside until it dries out some more.
The vet/farrier that worked on him in Randolph County did a great job trimming/treating his hooves! He'll need frequent trims to correct his hooves, especially his front right hoof (pictured below after the initial trim). "Red" is being scheduled for his next trim in a few weeks. The ulcerations in the soles of his hooves are responding very well to treatment and are much less painful now.
Left: "Red Butler" relaxes in his quarantine stall after his hoof treatments.
Above: The front right hoof is the worst, with more farrier trims needed to correct the damage from the neglect. This photo is from today after the hoof treatments. The initial hoof trim was done by a veterinary/farrier team in Randolph County so that Red could be transported here safely.
Above: The front right hoof is the worst, with more farrier trims needed to correct the damage from the neglect. This photo is from today after the hoof treatments. The initial hoof trim was done by a veterinary/farrier team in Randolph County so that Red could be transported here safely.
January 9, 2011:
"Red" is doing very good, improving easily in body condition with twice/day feedings and a great improvement in his hooves and ability to be mobile, as seen in the pics below. Although quite easy, as far as stallions go, to handle on a lead, "Red" is a pistol when turned out in his exercise paddock! He now has only slight lameness evident now due to the painful ulcerations on his soles which have mostly healed (his left front, the worst when he arrived with the deepest ulceration, is the only one still needing treatment at this time).
"Red" is doing very good, improving easily in body condition with twice/day feedings and a great improvement in his hooves and ability to be mobile, as seen in the pics below. Although quite easy, as far as stallions go, to handle on a lead, "Red" is a pistol when turned out in his exercise paddock! He now has only slight lameness evident now due to the painful ulcerations on his soles which have mostly healed (his left front, the worst when he arrived with the deepest ulceration, is the only one still needing treatment at this time).
March 9, 2011: Update and Special Need for Red Butler!
Great news! Last month, Randolph County filed a Petition For Bond for the horses seized and the judge ordered it. The owner did not pay the bond, so the horses involved in this case became custody of the county. The county, in turn, gave permanent custody of the horses to the rescues sheltering the three horses from this case. The court case for the charges against the owner will continue and updates will be posted as we know them. So Red Butler is now free to move on with this life and finish rehabilitation before adoption into a new home!
As a stallion, Red will need to be gelded before adoption into a new home. However, Red is a cryptorchid stallion meaning he has only one normal testicle descended. There is a small, lumpy mass that can be palpated which may be the other testicle, or it is an anomaly that needs to be assessed when it's removed while retrieving the second testicle in the abdomen. Therefore, Red Butler will require full anesthesia for open abdominal exploratory surgery. The expense is estimated to be $1,000. Due to our priority to use our donated funds for care of the many horses in our program, USERL - NC Triangle Region needs your help to fundraise specifically for Red to cover his surgery cost.
Great news! Last month, Randolph County filed a Petition For Bond for the horses seized and the judge ordered it. The owner did not pay the bond, so the horses involved in this case became custody of the county. The county, in turn, gave permanent custody of the horses to the rescues sheltering the three horses from this case. The court case for the charges against the owner will continue and updates will be posted as we know them. So Red Butler is now free to move on with this life and finish rehabilitation before adoption into a new home!
As a stallion, Red will need to be gelded before adoption into a new home. However, Red is a cryptorchid stallion meaning he has only one normal testicle descended. There is a small, lumpy mass that can be palpated which may be the other testicle, or it is an anomaly that needs to be assessed when it's removed while retrieving the second testicle in the abdomen. Therefore, Red Butler will require full anesthesia for open abdominal exploratory surgery. The expense is estimated to be $1,000. Due to our priority to use our donated funds for care of the many horses in our program, USERL - NC Triangle Region needs your help to fundraise specifically for Red to cover his surgery cost.
Red always has to roll first thing upon turnout in his roundpen!
He always puts on a good show after his roll! Spring hormones have started up and he's feeling great.
USERL - NC Triangle Region needs funds to cover Red Butler's cryptorchid surgery to geld him. He will then be evaluated for training and be able to go up for adoption. Please help us take Red through this last step of his recovery to a better future! If the surgery cost is less then the estimate of $1,000 (the second testicle is easy to find and anesthesia is shorter than estimated at this time), remaining funds raised for Red will be used for his training to ready him for adoption.
You can make a secure online payment at the paypal link below (you do not have to have a paypal account to use this link):
You can make a secure online payment at the paypal link below (you do not have to have a paypal account to use this link):
Or checks can be mailed to:
USERL
Red Butler Fund
9660 Falls of Neuse Road
Suite 138 Box 300
Raleigh, NC 27615
**USERL is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. All donations are tax deductible and donors will receive a Thank You letter to use for their tax purposes.
View USERL's full organization profile at Guidestar.
USERL
Red Butler Fund
9660 Falls of Neuse Road
Suite 138 Box 300
Raleigh, NC 27615
**USERL is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. All donations are tax deductible and donors will receive a Thank You letter to use for their tax purposes.
View USERL's full organization profile at Guidestar.