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Print This StoryAnimal Rescue Group Aims To Seize 12 Horses In Brooklyn
Animals' Owner Says She Feeds Horses
POSTED: 10:49 pm CDT May 10,
2008
BROOKLYN, Wis. -- The living conditions of several horses in Brooklyn have prompted an animal rescue group and a neighbor to plead to the horses' owner to give them up.
VIDEO: Watch The ReportJenny Ashbacher, who with her husband Dave runs the J&D 2nd Chance Horse Rescue Ranch in Blue Mounds, said that she has seen her share of abused and neglected horses in the past few years, but she claims that what is happening on County Road D in Brooklyn is unlike any other case she has witnessed."I've never seen a horse worse than those four," Ashbacher said, about some of the 12 horses in question. "You can definitely see their pelvic bones, they go in. When you see them you'll see a predominant spine, there will be no fat, no muscle on them whatsoever."Neighbor Andrea Loeffelholz contacted Ashbacher about the 12 animals."I want these animals to be taken to a home where they will be taken care of and loved and not sit there and be able to count every rib on their body and be stuck in mud three feet deep," said Loeffelholz.She said it's more than an eye sore in her backyard. She said that she feels the horses are in danger."How can anyone look at these animals and go, 'Oh, they're just healthy and they're just great and they're just wonderful.' You can't," Loeffelholz said.The horses' owner, who would only identify herself to WISC-TV as "Mary," said she feeds them everyday. Regarding questions about the horses' living conditions, she said, "I'm waiting for it to dry out. The conditions out there are muddy right now. We had a lot of snow, we had a lot of rain."Mary said that the horses are thin."They get grain, they're getting water," Mary said. "I can't help the weather. I can't make them eat, if they don't eat."The owner's children show the animals at 4-H events. She said she will not give the horses up."I just need people to back up and give me a chance. They've got to understand my family is doing the best we can to all work together. Our horses are happy," she said.Ashbacher said that she has different thoughts about the horses' well-being."It makes me cry because if you have an animal, you have to take care of the animal. They have no way else of taking care of themselves," said Ashbacher.The J&D 2nd Chance Horse Rescue Ranch is currently working with Dane County Animal Control in an attempt to have the horses seized. Ashbacher said that she hopes other rescue groups step in to help.For information on the J&D 2nd Chance Horse Rescue Ranch, visit their Web site.
VIDEO: Watch The ReportJenny Ashbacher, who with her husband Dave runs the J&D 2nd Chance Horse Rescue Ranch in Blue Mounds, said that she has seen her share of abused and neglected horses in the past few years, but she claims that what is happening on County Road D in Brooklyn is unlike any other case she has witnessed."I've never seen a horse worse than those four," Ashbacher said, about some of the 12 horses in question. "You can definitely see their pelvic bones, they go in. When you see them you'll see a predominant spine, there will be no fat, no muscle on them whatsoever."Neighbor Andrea Loeffelholz contacted Ashbacher about the 12 animals."I want these animals to be taken to a home where they will be taken care of and loved and not sit there and be able to count every rib on their body and be stuck in mud three feet deep," said Loeffelholz.She said it's more than an eye sore in her backyard. She said that she feels the horses are in danger."How can anyone look at these animals and go, 'Oh, they're just healthy and they're just great and they're just wonderful.' You can't," Loeffelholz said.The horses' owner, who would only identify herself to WISC-TV as "Mary," said she feeds them everyday. Regarding questions about the horses' living conditions, she said, "I'm waiting for it to dry out. The conditions out there are muddy right now. We had a lot of snow, we had a lot of rain."Mary said that the horses are thin."They get grain, they're getting water," Mary said. "I can't help the weather. I can't make them eat, if they don't eat."The owner's children show the animals at 4-H events. She said she will not give the horses up."I just need people to back up and give me a chance. They've got to understand my family is doing the best we can to all work together. Our horses are happy," she said.Ashbacher said that she has different thoughts about the horses' well-being."It makes me cry because if you have an animal, you have to take care of the animal. They have no way else of taking care of themselves," said Ashbacher.The J&D 2nd Chance Horse Rescue Ranch is currently working with Dane County Animal Control in an attempt to have the horses seized. Ashbacher said that she hopes other rescue groups step in to help.For information on the J&D 2nd Chance Horse Rescue Ranch, visit their Web site.Copyright 2008 by Channel 3000. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
