
By Bob Hallmark - bio | email
Posted by Ellen Krafve - email
ALBA, TX (KLTV) - The recent seizure of over 50 starving horses in Hopkins County has many good hearted East Texans coming to the animals rescue. One woman has gone to extremes to nurse the horses back to health, and neighbors who are pitching in.
"Aren't you a sweetheart," said Pamela Dountas, talking to the horse. "She is my baby this one."
Hopkins County deputies, Sulphur Springs police and Bluebonnet Equine Humane Society worked together to remove 57 starving horses from a property in Hopkins County.
"By the time we got there one had died about 12 hours before," said Dountas. "Some of them had old injuries. I was absolutely amazed at, not only the lack of care, lack of feed lack of medical care, but number of horses."
The horses were being kept in unsanitary conditions, deprived of proper food, water, some couldn't even stand.
"Someone can sit down and eat a meal and then go out and see these horses around their back door and not feel for them," said Dountas.
She donated her land to rehabilitate the horses, and has gone to extremes to help them.
"This mare behind us over here couldn't stand so I had to lay with her and give her sips of water every hour so we could hydrate her," explained Dountas.
Every two hours each day she checks the horses, making sure their recovering.
"I've had people drive by and drop off checks, maybe a sack of food," said Dountas.
They were emaciated and full of parasites when they were found, and now, the horses have found a little bit of paradise in Alba. Her neighbors have come through in a big way.
"With love and good food, they usually can make it," she said. "It's one horse at a time for us."
The horses have a chance now, thanks to people like Dountas. Legal action is being sought against the owners of the horses in court next week.
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