Friday, March 19, 2010
By: Gina Browning, SPCA Director of Public Relations
Community Comes Together to Move Animals to Safe Environment
The SPCA Serving Erie County rescued 73 horses, 53 cats, and 4 dogs from deplorable conditions on an Emery Road, East Aurora property Thursday, March 18. Animal cruelty carges are pending against the owner of the animals.
"We have received anonymous complaints on this particular property in recent months. We were unable to proceed, however, because, although we appreciate and respond to every anonymous tip we receive, there is little that can be done legally without signed statements," said SPCA Executive Director Barbara Carr. "In addition, the complaints we received from people not asking to be kept anonymous were complaints on issues that were not illegal. We may not feel they're morally right, but the law must be followed. These facts infuriate us as much as the complainants, but our hands are tied in situations such as these."
This week, however, the SPCA received the information it needed to obtain a warrant, legally enter the Emery Road property, and rescue the animals. The monumental feat was possible due to help from members of the "horse community" near and far, who gave up an entire day to come and assist in the rescue and transport the large animals.
According to Lindsey Styborksi, SPCA Cruelty Investigator and licensed NYS peace officer, "Some of the images I saw yesterday will never leave my mind. When I saw what these animals were living in, when I saw what they looked like...any animal lover would feel the way I felt and would do whatever it takes...however long it takes...to help them."
All horses rescued are in SPCA custody at an undisclosed location. Any medical needs are being provided. The dogs and cats from the property are at the SPCA's Tonawanda shelter and at the time of this writing are being medically evaluated.
"We could have listed pages of reasons to not fully engage in this rescue," says SPCA Director of Public Relations Gina Browning. " 'Caring for this many horses will be too costly.' 'We'll never be able to move 73 horses, and who will care for them if we do?' 'Where are we going to PUT 73 horses? It's just not possible.' 'How can we consider taking on more animals than we have on-site and off-site right now? We're already crowded!' And the reasons go on. But once we entered the housing structures (some filled with holes and jagged, exposed wood) and laid eyes on these beautiful animals caked in excrement, trying to stand in the piles of feces covering the floors of their stalls, all the while trying to drink and eat substances also covered in waste, every one of those reasons left our minds. All we could focus on was getting the animals out of there."
She adds, "The phrase 'unsanitary conditions,' often used when referring to similar cases, ironically seems so sterile. Horrific. Deplorable. Sickening. Abominable. Abhorrent. These were the very real conditions in which these horses were living while, according to reports we've received, allegedly rarely or never receiving time outside of their stalls. I cannot imagine anyone aware of the reality of the situation expecting anything from our organization other than a full rescue."
"This will cost, no doubt about it," says SPCA Deputy Director and Animal Cruelty Investigations Coordinator Beth Shapiro. "As always, we turn to the community for help in providing the sustenance and care these animals deserve. The SPCA has a long-standing commitment to this community: to protect our animals and prevent animal cruelty. Every single donor...every single volunteer...is a partner in helping us save these animals, and this case is the largest and most costly in four decades, maybe longer. Our staff, our volunteers, and these animals need our partners now more than ever."
PLEASE HELP THESE RESCUED ANIMALS and GIVE TODAY. You can donate on-line here or by calling 716-629-3532. Those with questions about in-kind donations and/or volunteering to help can also call this phone number.
Keep watching YourSPCA.org for updates on this animal rescue.
See videos and photos of the animals in their current housing environment at WGRZ-TV, WIVB-TV, and WKBW-TV.
http://www.yourspca.org/site/News2?n...le&id=6855
MANY links on the original page!!
73 HORSES, 53 CATS, 4 DOGS RESCUED BY SPCA
Linear Mode
