American Humane Association Assists in caring for dozens of horses Seized near buffalo, N.y.

DENVER, March 26, 2010 – A team of five emergency responders with the American Humane Association’s Red Star Animal Emergency Services™ today began assisting in the care of 73 horses rescued from deplorable conditions at an Erie County, N.Y., property on Thursday, March 18. Animal cruelty charges are pending against the owner.

The ASPCA (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) asked American Humane to assist by providing horse handling teams to help in the day-to-day care of the horses for the next two to three weeks.

All horses rescued are in SPCA Serving Erie County custody at an undisclosed location. The SPCA Serving Erie County is the lead organization in the rescue. Four dogs and 53 cats, also rescued from the property, are at the SPCA’s Tonawanda, N.Y., shelter.

“American Humane is honored to work with the ASPCA and the SPCA Serving Erie County on this important effort to care for these horses in distress,” said Debrah Schnackenberg, vice president of American Humane’s Animal Protection Division and director of its Animal Emergency Services. “Our team of Red Star emergency responders — all highly trained in this type of work — were eager to assist these horses and provide them with the kind of care they so desperately need.”

Reports say it appeared that the horses had rarely — if ever — been let out of their stalls. Feces covered the stall floors and walls, the food and water dishes, and even some of the animals themselves. It was difficult for the horses to stand in such conditions. Many were also allegedly underweight by hundreds of pounds.

Please help these rescued animals and give today. You can donate online to the SPCA Serving Erie County, N.Y., at http://bit.ly/aBAgFf or by calling 716-629-3532.

To support American Humane’s work helping vulnerable animals like the 73 severely neglected horses discovered in New York, donate to our Animal Emergency Services programs at www.americanhumane.org/aes-donate.