Oklahomans Rescue Malnourished Horses

JONES, Oklahoma -- Horses and donkeys were found neglected and starving among carcasses in Sayre, Oklahoma. But now a non-profit in Jones, Blaze's Tribute Equine Rescue, is helping nurse the animals back to health.

Fifty-one horses and several donkeys were found neglected and severely malnourished, another 48 were found dead. The Beckham County Sheriff's office contacted the equine rescue non-profit and they seized the horses on May 1.

Now the big task ahead is nursing these animals back to health, but the rescue group is in desperate need of monetary donations, grain donations, hay donations and foster homes.

Natalee Cross, along with her team of volunteers, has more than her hands full. The group must document and take pictures of the health problems these horses and donkey's have suffered after their owners left them for dead.

"It was a lot of animals for one place to be such severely neglected, it was very sad," Cross said.

Pam Stanfield is volunteering her time to help with the animals, that have a long list of problems.

"They've got ticks. They're full of lice. Their feet look horrible. They haven't been trimmed. I'm sure they have parasites," Stanfield said.

Some of the worst cases of animal cruelty are being taken care of at Blaze's Tribute Equine Rescue, like a horse that's been forced to live with a broken leg. A pregnant horse was rescued and hasn't been properly feed in a while. The idea someone could do this is baffling to Cross.

"They need to be punished, they deserve to be handed to them what they handed to the horses," Cross said.

The Beckham County Sheriff said the owners have not been arrested, but he expects that to happen very soon.

The rescue will likely cost Blazes Tribute Equine Rescue well over $100,000. The group has rescued over 300 horses since 2001.

Blaze's Tribute Equine Rescue is located at 17667 Markita Dr. in Jones Oklahoma. If you would like to help, you can send donations to that address or use pay pal online at the Blaze's Tribute Equine Rescue Web site.