Strangles At New Holland?
February 12, 2001
On February 5, 2001 Jim Smith from Silver Springs, Maryland, brought in a mare, approximately 24 years old, with infected and absessed razor sharp teeth, a 2 1/2 on the Henneke Scale (winter coat hides true condition in photo), who was suspected of having STRANGLES.
The mare was ridden through the ring and sold. When the new owner took a good look at the mare, they sought out another person who they had seen bidding against them in the ring. The second party, a woman from Maryland, purchased the horse from the new owners on the spot, and then made arrangements to keep the horse at the auction, fearing to take it back to her farm and put her own horses at risk.
The auction boarded this horse for one week, and then allowed it to be resold the following Monday with pus dripping from under it's chin!
During the next horse sale, on February 12th, the mare was sold privately to a New York horse dealer. The seller clearly stated that the horse had "STRANGLES".
The vet on duty that day indicated that either the mare's halter was too tight, or she had absessed teeth. When told that the owner was stating the mare had strangles, the vet responded with, "well then I guess she has strangles".
L.A.P.S., the Large Animal Protection Society, received an "anonymous complaint" regarding this situation and responded. Just before the new owner, a NY horse dealer, loaded this debilitated mare for transport out of state, the L.A.P.S. agent, Joanne Mauger, intervened. The horse was then "turned over in lieu of prosecution", transported straight to New Bolton (a premier veterinary center).
A vet tech at the medical facility named the horse Nell, which she said was "short for neglect".
Unfortunately weeks later we have received notification that Nell was humanely euthanized.
An investigation was conducted, charges were filed and on Monday, September 24, 2001 the courts levied the maximum $750 fine against Mr. Smith!
The auction put hundreds of horses at risk when they accept this debilitated mare into their stable, offering it for sale, and then allowing it to be repeatedly re-sold to various people.
The auction broke the law twice:
by offering for sale a debilitated horse; and
selling a debilitated horse
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