A horse found nearly starved to death near her dead foal in a Campo corral six years ago will be reunited with her rescuers Saturday at the animal shelter where she was nursed back to health.
County Department of Animal Services staffers will welcome back the brown buckskin mare they named “Simone” in recognition of “Help a Horse Day,” which was launched by the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
Simone’s former caretakers plan to share her rescue story, which began when the 12-year-old horse was found in June 2008 by a U.S. Customs and Border Protection agent, starving with a bail of hay just out of her reach, according to county officials.
Animal control officers brought Simone, who had lost part of her mane and was so weak she staggered, to the Bonita facility for intensive care.
Officials with the county Department of Animal Services launched an investigation into her treatment which led to her former owner, Derek Boyd of Campo, being convicted of a misdemeanor count of animal neglect, authorities said.
After getting nursed back to health, she was adopted by the nonprofit sanctuary Horses of Tir Na Nog in East County. Officials said she was the first of the some 30 horses transferred to the sanctuary from county facilities.
“The Horses of Tir Na Nog has been a savior to many elderly and infirm horses that the department might otherwise have had to euthanize,” Deputy Director of Animal Services Dan DeSousa said. “Through their compassion and dedication to these wonderful creatures, 30 animals have been able to live out their lives in a wonderful, caring environment.”
Simone will be at the animal shelter, 5821 Sweetwater Road, between 10 a.m. and noon Saturday. Also during the event, a local Girl Scout troop will donate horse care supplies.
– City News Service
