A welcomed relief in the weather...

   We finally got some rain today. The temp at 900 am was 77 and a over cast from a cloudy sky. A slow sprinkle of rain misted the area. The place looks alive again. The grass perked up, the horses are feeling frisky, hummingbirds were flocking around the pink lemonade honeysuckle growing on the trellis and the dogs were sprinting around the yard. Now, only 81 degrees at 11:15 am. A sigh of relief from every living thing on the place. Though it wont stay long, it was a nice change of pace from this drought stricken area.

Channel33 News...story of 11 horses found dead.

   Sadly, a news story alerted the N. Texas area. Eleven horses were found dead in Parker county. Animal control officers arrived on the scene, they found no resources for either food or water. There were troughs, but they were bone dry and a well that had malfunctioned. There was a gelding still alive, and had to be euthanized shortly there after from kidney and liver failure. The televised news said: A near by neighbor had commented on not seeing the horses for a couple of days or so. Saying in the past, her family took pictures of the horses and petted them over the fence on occasion.

   Now I'm not one to pass judgement on people, but how could you NOT notice something that critical living so close. Thank God!, a man doing a drive by, noticed one of the horses struggling to get up and called the authorities. The pictures of the horses had signs of malnutrition and looked as though they had been starving for food and water. Again!, how could others living in close proximity, not recognize a cry for help from the helpless horses? The owner of the horses lives in Arizona and had a care takers, supposedly tending to the animals. Good grief! Cruelty charges are being brought against the caretaker. But, what about the owner? ffs!

   No one in there right mind, would leave horses to be cared for by some one else, without monitoring them. Having ownership of animals means being good stewards. Over seeing and managing the proper care of something so valuable, as a living creature. As brutal a season as this has already been, there is no way in hell those care takers shouldn't have checked the horses water source a couple of times a day. I was sickened at the news.

   That's why my husband and I never leave our animals with any one. It's risky business. Most folks don't know the first thing about caring for livestock, the signs of stress, sickness or other wise. At least most of our circle of friends don't. I wouldn't even strap them with the responsibility. As far as I'm concerned, it's cruel and unusual punishment for both parties. Off my high horse....arg!