Aloha in the Hawaiian language means affection, peace, compassion and mercy. It has also been used in the English language to say "hello" and "goodbye". So 'ALOHA' is the most fitting thing to be said for our sweet Sheree.
On 9-18-14, we rescued a yearling stud colt named Triton from people running a pony riding service where pictures on their Facebook pages clearly showed horrendous training practices with young, defenseless horses. We tried to negotiate the release of a yearling filly, but they jacked up the price so we had to walk away. The picture below shows the makeshift stall and depressed looking filly on that day. We did not for get her or the other skinny horses left behind.
That same day those sellers posted a Craigslist ad for her asking $700 for a grade filly stating she had ground training. This is the photo they used. She is seven months old and like Triton they were saddling her and probably having kids ride her.
Here is another training photo off their Facebook page, she doesn't look like she is having fun to me.
With the assistance of a wonderful lady named Sheree, who borrowed a trailer and made a rescue trip to purchase this filly on our behalf. We were able to buy her for $400 as they had dropped their price so they could get rid of her fast. Sheree and her friends braved one of the worst thunderstorms of the season to go get this filly to safety. Two horses now safe and two more to go.
In the continued rain our newest save began scarfing down her hay only for Sheree to notice that her nose was running and it had bits of chewed hay in it. She let me know that she had seen the filly cough and we thought perhaps she got some hay up in her sinuses that was slowly draining out. So she kept a close eye on her and watched for any signs of distress. This filly, who we named Sheree, was very sweet and would follow them around. Was her spirit totally broken or she just listless?
On Sunday, Monique, who adopted TWH Baxter Black last year and facilitated Triton's rescue, along with Shannon who is fostering Triton, made the trip to pick Sheree up and trailer her to HaraNova Ranch where she would be fostered till mid-October. The draining in her nose continued.
I consulted Dr. Kari Christianson about the drainage and we discussed various things it could be, but the most likely was a partial choke like we initially thought. No emergency call was needed because again she was so calm and did not appear distressed. Monique's called her vet first thing Monday morning for him to come diagnose and treat her symptoms. Monique let him know that when she drank water, it came right back out her nose. The possibility of a cleft palate seemed much greater and probable, even though it is extremely rare in horses, especially ones this old.
In an effort to research who could treat a cleft palate in the Phoenix area I contacted a fellow rescue and when I described the filly, I was told they knew she had a severe cleft palate because they were asked to take her a year ago by the breeder, but when he found out they would put her down as recommended by their vet, he instead gave the foal to neighbors. It was verified that those neighbors were in fact the people we bought Triton and Sheree from. They promised him she would be well cared for the rest of her life. The photo below is her big, clean stall at HaraNova where she enjoyed fresh water, good food and lots of TLC from the family.
Yesterday was a day from hell on so many levels. Not only for me, but for all the ladies involved in rescuing Triton and Sheree. I placed many phone calls to vet specialists and others who have experience with cleft palate horses and the news was not good. Infections and pneumonia are common side affects and in most cases they are unable to recover. We had been told it was a severe birth defect and in fact after seen by the vet, there was a gaping hole between her tongue and sinus on the right side. Not only did she have difficulty eating and drinking but also breathing.
Her cuddly demeanor was in part from her gentle attitude, but mostly because she had a low grade fever and pneumonia and had been sick for some time. Looking at the picture from 9-18-14 above, it's clear she was ill then. The heartbreaking decision to put her down was made and so many tears have been shed since.
These people were so eager for money that they sold her knowing about the huge hole in her mouth and played off her current illness as her being such a gentle horse. They took the money and watched this filly go down the road without a second thought to their unscrupulous tactics and lies. We are thankful that her trip was to loving, caring people and not others who would have just sold too because her nose wouldn't stop running.
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| Sheree meeting Baxter Black |
Sheree had 48 hours of tender loving care from Sheree and her family, Shannon, Monique and her family. I never got to meet our latest rescue and I ache that I never got to hug her and show her love. Even the vet was hurt by all that had happened to this sweet yearling.
The authorities were notified of the horses in poor health after we rescued Triton. With the many calls they get and without pictures of the skinny horses on the property the complaint was not processed immediately. They have since been notified of the death of Sheree and we have been promised it will be looked into. We pray her life will save the others and her death not be in vain.
We incurred unexpected medical bills in addition to the $400 we had to pay to buy her to safety. Any donation to help with these costs (approximately $1000) would be so appreciated. You can use this donate button
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