Racehorse in slow recovery - Starving animal in critical care

Jordana Mishory
The Arizona Republic
Jul. 24, 2004 12:00 AM

A Thoroughbred racehorse now struggles to stand in a stable of Chaparral Animal Hospital in north Phoenix. Nearly 500 pounds underweight and suspected of having been severely abused, the horse was taken to the hospital by Horse Rescue of North Scottsdale earlier this week.

The horse is being given intravenous fluids and antibiotics to treat the bacterial fungus infections on his legs. He is also covered in sores from lying down for too long.

On Wednesday, the owner, an unidentified woman in south Phoenix, called the hospital and the horse rescue to euthanize her horse because he had a swollen leg and she didn't want to pay for a veterinarian, said Holly Marino, the founder of the Horse Rescue of North Scottsdale.

Before being rescued, the horse had been on the ground since Sunday. He was near death when Marino's team went to pick him up.

"My hauler called and said, 'This horse is dying. I can't get him up,' " Marino said. "I said, 'You can't leave him there.' "

The horse will be under critical care at the hospital for about 10 more days before he goes to Marino's horse rescue. Veterinarian Kimberly Gryl said it will take several months for him to return to a healthy weight and even longer for him to fully recover.

State livestock officials could not be reached for comment late Friday, and Maricopa County sheriff's officials did not return phone calls on whether they would initiate an animal-cruelty investigation.

Marino said she knows he was a racing horse because he has a racing tattoo on the underside of his top lip. The hospital is trying to identify the horse.

"This horse probably won money racing, and it's sad that he doesn't have money for his bill," Marino said.

Marino estimated the veterinarian bills will cost nearly $10,000.

For information, call Chaparral Animal Hospital at (602) 992-4700 or go to www .rescueahorse.com/ noteuthanized.htm.


Reach the reporter at (602) 444-6848.


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