Quick response to horrific horse neglect case, how to help

The story that came out this weekend about the discovery of as many 450 starving horses on a ranch east of Billings was bad enough; worse yet was the fact that finding the horses might not have been enough to save the animals. As the Billings Gazette’s Jan Falstad reports:

But the legal action may have come too late to save many of the estimated 450 horses starving to death on a ranch east of Billings.

Two horses were humanely shot by a county sheriff’s lieutenant last Saturday. Unless the surviving horses are fed, Shepherd veterinarian Jeff Peila said the horses will start dying in droves within the next two weeks. It isn’t clear who will feed the horses or if they can be adopted.

So this news that offers of help are pouring in is particularly welcome.

Here’s how to help:

The Northern International Livestock Exposition in Billings is coordinating donations of hay at water tanks holding at least 100 gallons. Donations may be made from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the NILE office in the MetraPark area where the fair carnival sets up. Or, call NILE at (406) 256-2495.

Gwen Florio

(Image: Larry Mayer/Billings Gazette)