Blossom the horse lives in a corral at Kern County Animal Control. Abandoned in a field, Blossom was emaciated and suffers from hair loss. He's one of six neglected horses in the care of Animal Control.
"You think about how we need to be taken care of. We need shelter, food, water, love and some of these animals didn't have one or a combination of those," Kimberly Mullins, Animal Control District Manager, said.
Animal control is taking in more horses now than in year's past. A poor economy coupled with the price of feed, is leading people to neglect their horses.
One example, a horrific case of animal abuse where a gray horse was abandoned in a Lamont almond field. The horse was in such bad shape it had to be euthanized.
"I was furious first, sick second, and I just cried like a baby when I saw the pictures on the news," Tracy Totton-Morton, Bit-O-Heaven horse rescue, said. "That wasn't abuse, that wasn't neglect, that was torture."
Totton-Morgan who runs Bit-O-Heaven, a horse rescue in Bakersfield, said she has never seen an animal in that condition. At her rescue, Totton-Morgan takes in neglected animals like Chief. He is a movie horse who starred in "The Patriot."
Bit-O-Heaven houses more than 30 horses and the rescue is at its financial capacity. She said feeding a horse could run up to $200 a month. Totton-Morgan has had to turn away people looking for a home for their horse.
"I just can't take anymore. I can't tell one of the horses that's already here that they can't eat this week because I had to bring in another horse," she said.
If you want to help neglected horses, Animal Control is holding a meeting Thursday, May 7th at 6:30 p.m. at the Public Health Department on Mt. Vernon Ave. Animal Control is asking for the public's input into an emergency fostering program for large animals.
Animal control said even in the most desperate situation, you should not abandon your animal. You can call them for help at 321-3000.
