Animal Control Officers with San Diego County Department of Animal Services (DAS) rescued two severely neglected horses from the community of Boulevard, and now those horses need a new home.
The DAS shelters were at capacity due to the large seizure of livestock before the holidays, but a local rescue group stepped up to take the 20-year-old chestnut gelding and 30-year-old paint mare. Both were extremely emaciated and had been abandoned.
“The Department is extremely grateful for organizations such as FalconRidge and the San Diego Horse Coalition and their ability to assist the public and the department,” said Dawn Danielson, Director of Animal Services.
Nicki Branch, President of FalconRidge Equine Rescue and a founding member of the San Diego Horse Coalition – a group comprised of nonprofit equine rescues, sanctuaries, veterinarians, the San Diego Humane Society and the County Department of Animal Services – agreed to take them in immediately so that their rehabilitation could begin.
The horses were delivered to the FalconRidge Equine Rescue on January 7th. The gelding has been named “Sparky” and the paint mare was named “Buttons” by the FalconRidge staff. FalconRidge will be providing feed and care for the horses and the San Diego Horse Coalition will be providing funding for veterinary and farrier care in a collaborative effort to get Sparky and Buttons back to good health and weight.
For more information about adopting Sparky and Buttons once their rehabilitation is complete, visit FalconRidge Equine Rescue.
More general information is available on the Department of Animal Services and San Diego Horse Coalition websites.
