Animal control officers seek public's help in case of emaciated horse dumped on South Gate street

The Southeast Area Animal Control Authority is asking for the public's help in locating the person or persons responsible for dumping a severely emaciated horse on a South Gate street last month.

Animal control officers received a call notifying them that a female horse was lying near the gutter in the 5400 block of Gardendale Street, near Gardendale Park, just after 6 a.m. on July 22. No one has come forward to report who abandoned the horse there, but a witness did recall seeing a dark SUV pulling a light-colored horse trailer in the area about 1 a.m. It's unclear if the SUV and trailer are related to the horse-dumping incident.

When officers arrived, the horse was motionless but alive. "An officer took an apple from her lunch and fed it to the horse, and she was so excited to receive this treat," said Aaron Reyes, the Southeast Area Animal Control Authority's director of operations. "Two neighbors brought a small amount of hay and fresh water and the horse clearly enjoyed it for as long as she could keep her head up."

An equine veterinarian rushed to the scene, but found the horse in such poor condition that she was euthanized to end her suffering.

A reward of $7,500 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for dumping the horse is being offered by the Humane Society of the United States, EAG Sports Management Chief Executive Denise White and Minnesota Vikings defensive end Jared Allen. Anyone with information is urged to call the animal control authority's investigators at (562) 803-3301, Ext. 229.

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-- Lindsay Barnett

Photo credit: Southeast Area Animal Control Authority

Comments

[Penelope]

OMG, I can't believe my eyes!!! Who could do this to this poor helpless horse. If I ever saw him I would lose caontrol. Don't know what I could do. I would want him/her to suffer, suffer, and suffer...

[Birde Elder]

Is there a security cam at a business along that road? a red light camera?

Is that number a animal research facility brand?Check with your large animal Vet schools. and scan for a microchip!

Local farriers know each others work and local horses.

Scan for a micro chip!!

[Marlene]

It is unconscionable that anyone could do this to a horse or any animal. The person or persons that did this need to be locked in a room with no food or water and see what it is like to suffer like this poor horse did. At least this horse knew a few kind souls be she took her last breath and was put down humanely by a vet. The people that did this need to be found and punished.

[Cathryn]

“The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated."
Mahatma Gandhi~

[Rebecca Smith]

When will the suffering ever end? What kind of monster would do this to another living being? He or she needs to be starved, beaten and left for dead if you ask me. How man can be so cruel is beyond me.
~"As long as man continues to be the ruthless destroyer of other living
beings, he will never know health or peace. For as long as men massacre
animals, they will kill each other. Indeed, he who sows the seed of
murder and pain cannot reap joy and love." - Pythagoras~

The fact that man knows right from wrong proves his
intellectual superiority to other creatures.The fact
that he does wrong to these creatures proves his
moral inferiority". - Mark Twain

[Becky Edmonds]

Absolutely appalling. I hope they catch the abuser.

[MARY]

The fact the she was eating was good. They could have given her a chance at life and not been so quick to put her to rest. She had the will to eat for the love of god. This poor baby....people like this are heartless and need to be put into jail. I hope like one person mentioned that a camera caught something.

[autumn]

I see this as a protest to the banning of horse slaughter. NO I would never eat a horse: NO I would not send one of my own to slaughter, and NO I would never starve one so severely. BUT I am in control of MY situation.

The thing is, people have a mental ability to limit their reproduction. But I don't think a mare is going to trot over to the vet's office for an IUD, or the stallion stop at wally world for a pack of condoms. So, you end up with a continually increasing population, and no place to go with the excess.
Yep, that person that dumped that poor horse deserves some sort of mistreatment, but I'm more worried about the ones left at home that may be in similar condition!!

[Scott]

I hear this happeneds just southeast of the city of Riverside (CA). There almost needs to be a volunteer citizens patrol of sorts that drives around horse areas looking for this sort of thing. I have rescued 2 horses myself in similiar conditions.

[AJ]

The hard fact of life is that people ARE this cruel, and you'd be appalled at how often this happens. If this horse's plight touches you, find a reputable local rescue and please donate your time or money. Even $5 can go a long way in helping the hundreds of horses that are rescued daily in this country.

Mary, just the will to eat isn't all that's needed. I'm sure the equine veterinarian made an informed assessment and the best decision.

[Lorrie]

I hope they looked for a lip tattoo, she has the TB look to her. I wasn't at the scene but she had the sparkle in her eyes and the will to live. I brought back a horse starved just as bad as this poor girl and she is a nice fat happy horse now. There are many horse rescue groups in the LA area and emergency transports for horses that were not contacted. I hope they find whomever did this to this poor girl...

[lapsedcat]

This is very sad, but I would not fault or second guess the personnel who were in attendance here for any reason. Yes, it is possible we could have saved her but what a freaky situation. She had kindness from humans in her last moments, which is much more than she's had the last few months of her life.

[L.A. Voter]

I agree with several of the commenters here that if she was able to eat she should have been given a real opportunity to survive.

Is the Southeast Area Animal Control Authority equipped for such a large animal rescue? Was this horse euthanized simply because they weren't able to move her?

As a viewer of all humane law enforcement shows, I have seen horses ably rescued over and over. But watching the heroics of these shows sets one up for a dismal disappointment when dealing with local animal control agencies. I once called the West L.A. city shelter to ask them to come rescue a dog running in rush hour traffic less than one mile from their location. Not only would they not come, but the man who answered the phone was audibly irritated with me for even asking. I asked to speak to the Lieutenant on duty and as I watched four drivers exit their cars to try and rescue this dog who was endangering both himself and motorists, I listened to the L.A. Animal Services officer explain to me at length how LAAS had so many more important things to do than rescue dogs in traffic. He actually said to me "All we could do is cite for a stray dog." The terrified dog eluded all his civilian would-be rescuers and disappeared in the traffic.

More than a year later I was in the new West L.A. shelter when a similar call came in. The woman at the desk told the caller, "You can bring the dog in, but (as if it were the most absurd request in the world) we don't go out and GET them. That's our policy..."

I don't know about Southeast Area Animal Control Authority, but when it comes to L.A. (city) Animal Services, or L.A County Department of Animal Care and Control, we are very far from talking about the heroes of "Animal Cops."

[MyBigRed]

How can anyone be so cruel and dump this horse like she was a piece of garbage? First of all, I pray for this poor horse and others that have cruel owners. Whoever did this, better hope that God will forgive them, because I'm finding it hard to. God, PLEASE Bless ALL horses with loving owners that will protect, feed and give them safe shelter for their entire life. Amen. (I know I would lay my life down for my horses.)

[donna]

I wonder if the horse could have survived? Maybe it was too far gone. Poor girl. She was probably very beautiful at one time.