David, you are correct, there are many standards of
care. I don't know what state you are in, but first you can call your ag dept.
and find out what the protocol is for checking for coggins. They are
required, by law in most states to at least have that.
If we go on a call for a horse here in my area,
they must have food, water and some type of shelter. That is because they are
livestock and not companion animals. A shelter can be a walk in shed or even a
big tree. Water and food must be fresh. That is the minimum. Now, if the horse
is ill, our local SPCA can require a vet check from the owner to verify that the
animal is under a vet care.
There is no law that I know of in our area that
says horses have to have eee/wee/vee, west nile, rabies, or tetanus. They are
just recommended for your animals health. Actually, your horse can even have EIA
but you must be able to quarantine it. (that is in our area anyway)
So call your local ag dept. and talk to them first.
Maybe if they go out and talk to the owners, other good things will follow.
You're not ratting on any one if you just inquire about the pony next door to
your SPCA or Humane Society. Or your local police might be in charge of
livestock and go out and check. Animal control, or whoever takes that
job on, should be involved when an animals health and well being is at risk. In
this case, it could be yours.
You DO have a right to keep your horses healthy,
even if it means making sure your neighbors horses are healthy. I hear you about
your truck. But it can be fixed. EIA can't be. Good luck.
Lisa Salas, Teh Odd fArm
Doing the right thing isn't always easy, but it is
always right.
OK, but I still don't really feel I have an answer to my
question. There's my standards of care, and then somewhere below that there's
what the typical owner does, and then below that there's neglect, and then
abuse.
For example, our horses (even the one that is retired)
never go more than 8 weeks without farrier care. Some people think 12 weeks is
OK (IMHO, this is borderline OK), others go to twice a year (bad, but is it
abuse?). Where do you draw the line? When should animal control be
involved?
BTW, in terms of "bring it on" - our truck got keyed on 3
panels. $700 worth of damage unless we can get it fixed cheap. I'm not sure
which of 2 neighbors did it. Even if I knew, then there's doing anything about
it. Happened right after the incident with the neighbor's horses. I'm not
especially up for putting my property and animals at risk if it isn't going to
help anything. I'll take some substantial risks if I think it is going to
help.
BTW2, I used the term "ratting out" because that's what
the person who started this question about the pony used. A failed attempt at
humor...
From: ridecamp-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:ridecamp-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of
Paddi Sent: Wednesday, December 24, 2003 8:17 AM To:
ridecamp Subject: [RC] ratting out
Since we are small children we
are taught not to tattle.
So when we grow up that is brain
washed very deep.
If you do not take action when
action is needed then you are as guilty of abuse or neglect as the
person doing it.
Just the term ratting out makes
it sound like you think calling authoritative is wrong
I do not call it ratting I call
it taking affirmative action.
I personally do not hide behind
the anonymity clause I let the person know it was me who
called.
Also when you register a
complaint do not then get on chat lines, tell all your friends, confront the
persons involved.
Many cases get screwed up
by not letting animal control do the job. It takes time to win a case. They
need to make sure everything is in order or it will get thrown out of
court.
