INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — The Humane Society of Vero Beach and Indian River County has taken in two severely underweight horses, one of which is pregnant, after their owner voluntarily relinquished them.
“It will be a long road to recovery for Rosie and Billy,” the Humane Society said in a prepared statement.
Billy is an 11-year-old gray gelding and Rosie is a 15-year-old pregnant bay mare. Their owner turned them over to the Humane Society Wednesday, April 23. The Humane Society did not release the rescue until Tuesday, April 29.
When relinquishing the horses, the owner said she was “unable to properly care for the animals,” the Humane Society said.
“Helping these two horses has been a collaborative effort. Thanks to our community, Billy and Rosie’s future looks promising,” said Ilka Daniel, the Humane Society’s director of animal protection.
Indian River County Animal Control loaned the organization an equine trailer to transport the horses from the owner’s property to the Humane Society. Sgt. Brad Fojtik and Dep. Davie Partin, both of the Indian River County Sheriff’s Office Ranch and Grove division also provided assistance with help from Humane Society equine volunteers John Thompson and Bruce Dangerfield.
Veterinarian Tanya Ciacciarelli, of East Coast Animal Medical Center, has been monitoring the horses’ health since their arrival at the Humane Society.
“We expect Billy and Rosie to be long-term shelter residents,” said Daniel, who is currently overseeing their day-to-day care.
The Humane Society is requesting contributions of money and supplies since it could take six to 12 months before Billy and Rosie can be placed for adoption.
Both horses are extremely thin and must be fed every two hours throughout the day until they develop more strength, according to the Humane Society.
While Rosie will birth her foal in the near future, the shelter is waiting for her health to improve before performing an ultrasound that would better determine her due date.
“Once Billy and Rosie are strong enough, we’ll also have staff and volunteers provide them with exercise to help restore their muscle mass and provide psychological enrichment,” Daniel said.
The Humane Society is a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping and protecting the animals of Indian River County. If you would like to make a donation, call the shelter at (772) 388-3826.
