NHSPCA: About the Society

News Release

NHSPCA - Overrun with Horses

January 29, 2009

Contact: Sheila E. Ryan
Director of Development and Marketing
Phone: (603) 772-2921 ext. 106

On Thursday, January 29, 2009, the New Hampshire SPCA announced that it is seeking adopters, foster homes and support for the ten horses currently its care. The ten horses come from a variety of cases of animal cruelty and neglect.

"Our normal average for horses in residence is two or three," said Lisa Dennison, Executive Director. "Now with ten horses to care for, six of them needing medical care, and the price of hay being almost double, we are really stretched."

Four of the horses, one of whom is pregnant, came from a case in Deerfield, NH, where their owner had stopped caring for them. They didn't have proper shelter, water or food. When they came in, just before the ice storm of December, they were malnourished and very thin. Three of them are currently available for adoption. Another horse, a very large Draft Mix, was rescued from Kingston where his owner had tethered him to a tree. The rope had become snagged around his back leg and caused a severe wound to his ankle. His owner was not providing him appropriate shelter or medical care for his injury.

Then there are Noel, Hal and Pickles all of whom are available for adoption. Pickles is a 15 year old, liver chestnut, Shetland Pony who came to us last summer from another case. He's very sweet and has been easy to keep. He has Cushings Disease which we are managing with a low carb diet, until he is adopted. Hal has been here since Halloween and is here because his owner could no longer afford to keep him. Noel has been here for more than two years and has made tremendous progress since her rescue from a Rye, NH case back in December of 2006.

Just last week, two more horses came to us through a cruelty investigation in Lempster. Their owner voluntarily surrendered them claiming that he couldn't afford to feed them anymore. The two year old mare and the fifteen year old pony were both very thin. The pony is a also expected to give birth this spring. "I'm anxious to find a home for the two pregnant horses in particular. I'd like to see them have a home and an appropriate place to give birth," said NHSPCA Barn Manager Suzanne Bryant.

"We are concerned that we are at capacity for horses. There could be more horses in need in the near future, especially in this economy, and we simply wouldn't have space for them," said Lisa Dennison. "One thing that would be tremendously helpful would be a run-in shed for our front paddock which would help expand our capacity for horses." Ms. Dennison said that anyone wishing to donate a run-in shed, used or new, should contact Steve Sprowl, Cruelty Investigator @ 772-2921, x111. .

The NHSPCA is asking for the community's help in caring for the ten horses. Those wishing to help with the care, medical treatment, and recuperation of our beautiful horses can make a tax deductible contribution to the NHSPCA. Donations should be directed to the SOS Fund via the web site at www.nhspca.org, by phone at (603) 772-2921, x105 or by mail to SOS Fund, PO Box 196, Stratham NH 03885.

The New Hampshire SPCA is a community resource center that provides animal adoption, education, investigation and sheltering services in a professional and compassionate way. The Adoption Center is open from 11 am – 4pm on Monday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, 11 am – 7pm on Tuesday and Thursday, and closed on Wednesday. For more information about the NHSPCA, visit www.nhspca.org.

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