MINI AUCTION LOOMS LARGE

Despite cooperation from an entire community of animal lovers to rescue several hundred animals suffering from abuse and neglect at the hands of a Josephine County breeder, 177 miniature horses will go to the auction block on December 8^th.

With help from the Animal Defense Fund, the Josephine County Animal Welfare Department and District Attorney had the courage to bring action against “Magical Minis” near Grants Pass when neighbors reported numerous cases of neglect and abuse of multiple animal species kept caged or left to wander the 120 acre ranch.

The animals were seized on September 14^th and are currently held at the county fairgrounds, the only facility capable of housing the 177-member miniature horse herd, including several severely undernourished individuals.

Responding to the seizure, several groups encouraged their members to help in the care of the tiny horses, including volunteers from the Josephine County Sheriff’s Posse and Search and Rescue, who did the enormous job of handling the horses as they were examined, vaccinated, and treated for a number of ailments.

Hoof care was donated by advanced students and instructors from the Oregon School of Natural Hoof Care of Jacksonville, Oregon, who trimmed over 60 mares and foals in a marathon work session on October 18^th. The Oregon Hay Bank, a program administered by Equamore Foundation, donated $2,000 to help feed the miniatures.

Despite the efforts of all these groups and individuals, the miniatures may be in further jeopardy because their owner has agreed to surrender the animals to the county which has decided to auction them off, potentiually resulting in the Minis being purchased by persons who have no experience with horses.

Worried that the miniatures could end up living under the same or worse conditions as what caused their original seizure, Equamore volunteer Anna Clay is spearheading an effort by horse rescues across Otrgon and the other westerm states. Our goal is to educate potential buyers, to offer placement for Minis who are not adoptable, and to help new owners who come to realize that

miniatures are almost as expensive as a regular-sized horse.

“Even though they’re small,” says Anna, “they’re still horses, not household pets. Some of them may be the size of a large dog, but they have the needs of a horse as much as five times their size.”

The plan, developed in concert with other horse rescues, is to offer temporary placement for as many Minis as possible with an application process to follow to insure that potential owners have the skill and facilities to provide the care required for miniature horses.

“Equamore Foundation complements Josephine County on its decision to seize these abused animals and on the care provided them so far,” says Nancy Ash, president of the Equamore Board of Directors. “And we understand the need of a public agency to recoup the enormous cost of such a seizure and to abide by existing law.

“But we do not understand treating a living being in the same way we might treat a discarded desk or out-of-date computer. Putting animals at auction to the highest bidder can result in a repeat of the cruelty from which they were saved in the first place.

“We’d like to prevent that if we can by providing an alternate procedure to ensure that each animal is placed with an appropriate steward for its care. That’s why we’re asking Equamore Friends to contact Anna Clay (541-890-1274) if they are able to bid on a Miniature Horse at the auction to keep permanently or until appropriate placement can be arranged.”