After I found a horse on my property, I contacted the state police. They in
turn contacted the live stock inspector. He told me to keep the horse for a
few days in case the owner showed up. The horse was a old black gelding that
was slightly lame in his right back leg, but otherwise was in good shape. A
week went by and no owner appeared.
The inspector called me and told me that he was coming out to pick up the
animal. I asked him what would be the fate of the horse. He told me that the
state would advertise in the local paper(under the legal notices) for seven
days. IF the owner was not found then the horse goes auction. I asked the
inspector if I could keep the horse for the seven days, then adopt him if
the owner did not appear. We all know what happens to old, lame horses that
go through the auction. He said no.
When he appeared, I asked to see the law that allowed him to take the
horse. He became angry and showed me a page(turned out later to be the wrong
page) that dealt with stray animals. I could not find the law and would not
let him take the horse. He said he was going to return with a search warrant
and sheriff deputies and left.
The media was contacted and and the story became a sensation(I live in a
small town and not much happens). I received alot of calls of support and
people wanting to help. Then the owner was found. But, the story now takes a
strange detour.
The owner read about the his horse in the paper. He is a disabled person
with an addiction to controlled substances(Did I say that politely enough?).
He had abandoned the horse in a pasture and the area neighbors had been
taking care of the horse for about a year. I guess throughout the course of
the day, he thought a lot about his horse. So when he got to a certain point
of being really polluted, he decided it was time to take his horse home. He
did not know where we lived, but he was a man undeterred. He went over to
our neighbor's house and took their horse! But, he did leave a note saying
that he really appreciated the care given to his horse.He also wanted us to
call him that evening.
Our neighbor came over upset, naturally, and after searching for his horse,
discovered it in the pasture from where the lost horse came from. He, of
course, took his horse home. But, when the drunk disabled guy shows up, he
discovers that his horse has been stolen! So he calls the sheriff and they
end up at our house. Now, the inspector tells us that we cannot release the
horse to any one but him, including the owner. So, the sheriff goes home. I
finally talk to the owner and he agrees to sell the horse to me for three
hundred dollars.
Next morning arrives to find the livestock inspector at my door with a
search warrant. The owner is up the road waiting for me so that we may
complete the transaction. The livestock inspector loads up the horse and
drives by me and the owner as we are filling out the bill of sale. We have
to follow the inspector to the pasture and as he is unloading the horse, I
am getting it to take right back to my house. Pretty stupid story, except it
does have a happy ending for the horse. He does not like men at all, but he
very affectionate towards women and children. I have never had a horse that
is so trusting and willing as Willie.
I did not go into great detail about the problems with the livestock
inspector, but from all that transpired, I really have a bad feeling about
him. I truly believe that if I had let that horse go , he would have
disappeared. Horses sell for .87 cents a pound at the auction these days,
and I believe that horse would have become the source of a Christmas bonus
for some people.
Thanks again for the support and ideas from all of you that wrote to me.
Patti
psmoto@lascruces.com