Region rallies to save horses

Two of the many horses helped by volunteer efforts. Photo provided

By now, most of Central Oregon and much of the country has learned about the plight of 129 mistreated horses discovered east of Bend last week. The story was picked by most television networks, including CNN.

What hasn't made the news, however, is how a group of Sheriff's Office volunteers sprang into action to coordinate the horse rescue effort. Just hours after a vendor discovered the shocking scene at a small horse "ranch" near Brothers, members of the Deschutes County Sheriff's Advisory Council met at the Sheriff's Office in Bend.

The Council normally acts in an advisory capacity. But, when Sheriff Les Stiles asked for ideas on how to handle the problem, he got more than just advice.

"Several of us volunteered to help, but we had no idea how much was involved," said Mike Lovely, co-chair of the Council. "We had six phones, and they were all ringing off the wall. I talked to people from Louisiana, Nebraska and Montana."

Lovely said that many of the people who called were in tears.

Erin Deggendorfer is a Sisters area resident who learned of the animals' needs and donated a ton of hay on the first day of the campaign.

"I was just shocked," she said. "I heard about it on the radio, and I wanted to see what we could do to help."

Many other Sisters residents were among those who stepped forward to help, and a complete list of donors and volunteers is still being compiled.

Stiles was extremely grateful for the help. He was visibly upset by what was discovered at the site where the horses were kept, but he was also relieved by the outpouring of assistance that followed.

"There has been a phenomenal effort put forth by volunteers on this," he said. "A number of the members of the Advisory Council, particularly Liz Wunder, Peggy Spieger, Kathryn Loeks, Mike Lovely and Andy Andrews have been coming in at 8 a.m. and leaving at nine at night."

Andrews is also host of the Central Oregon television talk show "Matter of Fact," and the horse rescue was the subject of a show he aired Sunday on High Desert Fox.

Among the first of the needs were trucks and horse trailers to remove the animals from the pens in which they were confined.

Volunteer veterinarians and farriers stepped forward immediately.

Many of the confined horses had received no foot care, and some deformed hooves had grown to more than a foot in length.

Early reports said that several of the animals had to be euthanized, but that proved not to be true. As of press time, all the horses were being cared for.

"We're still trying to save them all," Wunder said.

Compounding the problem, the total number of animals will surely grow since more than half of the malnourished and mistreated horses are pregnant.

It is expected that the mares will begin to foal at any time.

The animals were initially removed to the Deschutes County Fairgrounds where they are being cared for.

Veterinarian Tony Oddo personally took charge of the most seriously ill animals.

Hay and veterinary supplies were desperately needed in the early hours of the rescue operation and continue to be needed. Donations began to pour in as soon as the animals' plight became known.

"We put out word that we needed halters and lead ropes," Lovely said, "and we had a hundred by the end of the day."

While additional volunteers made calls around the region searching for help and resources, the news media helped alert the public to the situation.

Lovely said that cameras and news people passed through the center all day, but he was too busy to take much note of them.

"The next day, one of the deputies told me he saw me on CNN," Lovely said.

A "Save the Horses" account has been set up at Bank of the Cascades. Donations can be made at any branch. Additional funding and supplies are still very much needed.

For more information contact the Sheriff's Office at 617-3310.