(February 2018) Kentucky: Two Pit Bull spend their morning mauling the faces off of baby and miniature horses

KENTUCKY -- Mid-morning on November 4, 2017, two pit bulls came into our front paddock and attacked our four recently weaned foals and our miniature pony mare.

All five, sustained bite wounds to their faces, legs, necks, and bellies. One foal's injuries were so severe and life threatening that he was transported to Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital in Lexington, KY where he stayed for 10 days and underwent multiple surgeries to piece back the lacerations and bites.

All five horses, survived their wounds, but the vet bills to help save them multiplied quickly. Our current goal of $15,000 will be able to cover the vet expenses. We hope to raise money to help pay for the vet bills and also help pay for the attorney fees to take the dogs' owner to trial. We want to ensure that this will not happen again.

Please help spread the word!

 

 

 

GOFUNDME: Foal Dog Attack
Created February 25, 2018
Missy Jo Hollingsworth
  Medical
  MELBOURNE, KY

COMMENTS:
Michaela Morrison Ward - Good luck getting any money out of them!

We had the dog attack in Butler County a couple months ago and pit and 2 other dogs killed 3 minis and basically the owner got off with a slap on the hand and he apparently was even a known felon! I had a mini attacked and mauled 25 years ago and the judge had the owners pay the 1500 vet bill and the 3000 for cost of filly. That was before judges got weak!

Best of luck for recovery of minis and good luck in court! Hopefully, Hamilton County will have stiffer sentences!

Ohio: Man whose beloved miniature horses were attacked, killed and eaten by Pit Bulls vows to find the dogs and kill them

OHIO -- Authorities confirmed Monday they are searching for two pit bulls on the loose in Butler County after the dogs killed two mini-horses and an adult horse.

Three pit bulls attacked the ponies, named Bella and Pablo, and an adult horse in the 1900 block of West Elkton Road in St. Clair Township on Friday, confirmed Deputy Kurt Merbs, supervisor of the Butler County Sheriff's Office Dog Warden Unit.

 

 

One of the mini-ponies' owners, Mike Powell, shot and killed one of the pit bulls after it killed one of the mini-ponies, Bella, and was eating it, Merbs confirmed.

"The dog was almost on top of the deceased horse," Merbs said. "You have the right to protect yourself and your livestock. You don't have the right to shoot them for trespassing, but you can shoot to protect."

The adult horse was in such bad shape, it was euthanized by a veterinarian on Saturday, said Paul Huesing, Powell's cousin and the other owner of the mini-ponies.

The two surviving pit bulls ran off and remain at large, Merbs said.

He is working Monday to track them down - and their owner.

He said he went to a possible location for the dogs at a residence along Sipps Lane on Friday, but no one was home. He left a note asking the occupants to call.

"We are following up today. We left notice and, of course, got no phone call, so we are going back today on this. If we get any of the normal games we get out of this 'oh they are not my dogs' we will take custody of the two dogs," Merbs said.

 

 

Huesing is upset and vowed Monday to take matters into his own hands.

"I am going hunting today," he said. "I am going to go out in the field. I have a CCW (license to carry a concealed weapon), so I am always armed.  There's 20 people within this quarter mile radius. There are small children. It could have been them."

Huesing broke down in tears Monday as he talked about the violent way he lost his mini-ponies.

"They're irreplaceable. They are family members," he said. "It tore my heart out. I'll never be the same."

He said they were the last of his horses.

Bella was 8 years old and just 28 inches tall.

Pablo was 6 years old and about 31 inches tall.

 

 

"There's a special bond with a person and a horse. You have them 30 years and it just tore my heart out to have to go through this," he said, crying.

"I don't want nobody to be hurt."

Butler County Sheriff Richard Jones is sympathetic to Huesling's loss. He said he would be upset, too.

The sheriff is no fan of pit bulls, noting a Virginia woman was mauled to death Thursday by her two pit bull dogs as she walking them. But Jones acknowledges residents who live in unincorporated areas of the county are permitted to have them.

The animals must be licensed like all other dogs, however, he said.

"We tell people to let us know when they see them running around loose  Call the dog catcher or your local police. Don't try to catch them yourself."

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Pit Bull fatally maul miniature horses, full-sized horse in Butler County

A Butler County man said loose Pit Bulls attacked and killed his two miniature horses and a neighbor's regular-size horse Friday.

Paul Huesing said three dogs attacked his miniature horses, Bella and Pablo, at the home of his cousin, Mike Powell, on West Elkton Road in St. Claire Township, where Huesing was boarding the animals.

Huesing knew something was wrong when his cousin's wife, Linda, called him in a panic.

"I said, 'What's wrong?'" Powell said. "She said, 'Get out here.' I said, 'What's wrong?' She said, 'Bella is dead.'"

Mike Powell saw the attack unfold when he went to feed the two small horses. He had a gun at the time and shot and killed one of the three dogs, a pit bull. The other two dogs, which are believed to also be pit bulls, took off running.

"His eyelids were ripped off," Huesing, describing the injuries his horse Pablo suffered. "His innards were exposed. I can't describe it. Nobody should go through this. Nobody."

Later in the day Friday, the two remaining dogs attacked and killed a full-sized horse about a half a mile away from the scene of the first attack.

"They got this one big horse," said Cheryl Callahan, a horse owner who lives next to the Powells. "Now if they can take down one big horse, I've got two big horses plus the baby."

 

 

As word of the attacks spread, Callahan took steps to secure her own stable of horses.

"Me being protective, I've just, I've been putting them up," said Callahan. "I put them in the corral beside the barn, put them in at night. We watch them all day long."

Callahan is deeply saddened by what Huesing has had to endure.

"The look on his face when I went over there was just unbelievable," she said. "I couldn't imagine."

"I can't describe the heartache, the thought of them being torn apart," Huesing said. "My baby was this big (lifting his hand about 2 feet off the ground) and probably didn't weigh 250 pounds. And I helped the dog warden carry the dead pit bull up in a bag, and it took both of is. That dog was 100 pounds."

WLWT investigator Todd Dykes spoke to Butler County's supervisor of dog wardens, Deputy Kurt Merbs, late in the afternoon on Monday.

Merbs said it's not clear where the two other dogs involved in Friday's attacks are.

He advises neighbors to be cautious and alert the sheriff's department of any stray dogs.

One of the two attacking dogs is white, possibly with black streaks. Witnesses said the other dog simply has a darker coat.

Neighbors believe they know who owns the dogs, but Merbs said investigators are still trying to make that determination. He added that charges are possible.

VIDEO NEWS CLIP:

(FOX19 - Dec 19, 2017)

California: Pony rescued from canal goes unclaimed; adopted by horse rescue

CALIFORNIA --  A pony rescued from a Stanislaus County canal in October has been adopted.

Modesto police officers and Stanislaus County sheriff's deputies pulled the horse from the water near Fairview School on Oct. 13.

 

 

The pony had jumped in the water to try to get away, police said.

Since then, Stanislaus County Animal Services has looked after the animal while trying to find its owner.

"I've pulled a couple horses out myself. It's quite labor intensive and difficult to get them out so it's always a win when somebody comes out," Animal Services operations supervisor Connie Hooker said. "They are not injured and hopefully gets a forever home. We are really excited about that."

 

 

Wednesday, the pony got a new home.

Lora Handley, vice president of Oakdale Equine Rescue, jumped at the chance to help the pony.

"Our goal is to rehabilitate him, get him to the point where he's more handable, not afraid and is willing to get caught and get him adopted," Handley said.

The pony was a little apprehensive at first, but now seems happy at his new home.

VIDEO NEWS CLIP:

(Fox40 - Nov 1, 2017)

California: Adorable little pony running loose is picked up by Animal Control in Modesto

CALIFORNIA -- MODESTO POLICE DEPARTMENT added 2 new photos to Facebook November 8, 2017 at 11:34am ·

Apparently if you’re out for a morning trot, in a residential neighborhood, without a rider, it raises a few eyebrows 😲

Thankfully Animal Control Officer Dayton and Sergeant Schuller were quick to respond and able to lure this little fellow to safety.

He’ll be taken to Stanislaus Animal Services Agency until his owner picks him up. #JustAnotherDayOnTheJob #PonyProblems.

Texas: Family seeks justice after their 5-year-old daughter's beloved miniature pony named Chicken Nugget found shot to death

TEXAS -- Five-year-old Rylee Brett loved Chicken Nugget, her 25-inch-tall dwarf pony. When she was little, she would ride him around like a rodeo horse. When she got too big, he would sit down with the family and watch TV, reported KPRC.

Then, on the morning of Nov. 8, the family went outside to check on him in a fenced-in pen and found him shot to death at close range, reported the Houston Chronicle.

Kylee Brett, Rylee’s mother, posted the news to Facebook in an emotional message.

“RIP Chicken Nugget. You now have your wings and are flying high,” she wrote. “My heart is absolutely shattered as I try to find the words. The way you were taken from us was an act of a coward. Our smiles will never be quite as big as we drive through the pasture to watch you play.”

She added that “whoever stepped foot on our property and point blank shot him in the face will pay.”

The Bretts called the police and game warden to their ranch home in Hull, Texas. On Facebook, Brett wrote she had no idea who could have done the killing, but had some ideas for how it could have happened.

“There is no mistaking that they did it out of hatred,” she told WVTM.

“One theory of ours is a poacher did this to him that was spotlighting...the problem is, you don't mistake him as a deer within such a short distance while being with 4 other horses,” she wrote. 

Spotlighting is a controversial hunting technique where hunters use bright lights to detect the reflection in an animal’s eyes at night and stun them, reported Lubbock Online.

Rylee’s mother wrote on Facebook that her daughter was “confused, sad, happy (when we talk about our sweet memories), mad, and devastated,” but that she had been encouraged by an overwhelming show of support from people across the country. “She still isn't understanding. Everyone's sweet messages and comments are truly making her see there is still so much good in the world!,” her mother wrote on Facebook.

The case truly has brought out prayers and well-wishes from people across the country. Brett’s original post has been shared more than 3,000 times, and in the comments, several people posted photos of their own ponies and horses and offered to send them to Rylee.

The family is still seeking answers in the case, and Rylee’s mother wrote on Facebook that police and the game warden told her they felt confident that Chicken Nugget’s shooting could be solved.

“Our hearts are broken,” she told KPRC. “Very broken, and we’ll always miss him, we’ll always have that piece of our heart that’s broken. But good memories always help the heart heal a little faster.”

*  *  *  *  *  *

Kylee Allen Brett added 5 new photos.
November 8 at 2:05pm ·
RIP Chicken Nugget. You now have your wings and are flying high. You will never be forgotten. You will forever be missed. My heart is absolutely shattered as I try to find the words. The way you were taken from us was an act of a coward. Our family will always be one member short now and coffee in the mornings just won't be the same. Our smiles will never be quite as big as we drive through the pasture to watch you play. The creek feeders will have more feed and the calves will be lonely. Your horse friends no longer have a pit boss to guide them to their stalls. My daughters no longer have their best friend. I no longer have you to talk to.

Please help me find the words to explain to Rylee. Please help me cope to the fact Steelie won't ever get to have the memories we have. Please god help me understand. Why him? Please please please tell me why? Please pray for our family right now. Please fill me with the wonderful memories you have with Chicken Nugget, as I know so many people loved him. I know my granddaddy is feeding him cubes and apples right now. They are both loving it! I'm sure my Papa will enjoy his new fishing partner. Lord knows Chicken loved to pester you and knock the fishing pole out of your hands. I need so many prayers right now. Please pray.

******On another note******** whoever stepped foot on our property and point blank shot him in the face will pay. We have the police and the game warden here and I will personally be waiting to meet you. There is a special place in hell for you and I'm not scared to give you a first class ticket you pos!

Kylee Allen Brett
November 9 at 7:50am ·
UPDATE ON CHICKEN NUGGET:
We have never been so overwhelmed with love and support from family, friends, and strangers. Rylee woke up this morning and ran straight outside to see if Chicken Nugget had come back home. We had to explain that Jesus needed him way more then us and he was staying with him. Rylee said, " why can't he just come back alive, doesn't he miss me momma?" It shattered my heart all over again. I would just like to personally thank everyone for the phone calls, text, and fb messages. Also, I would like to thank Channel 2 News for contacting me and airing our story to get justice. I am trying to respond to everyone as quick a possible. We still haven't heard anything back from the police or game warden.

We have no FACTS at this point, so it's just a waiting game. I personally was told they recovered the bullet, but was just informed there was an exit wound... so no bullet (they like to keep the gory details from me, and I prefer it that way). We have no idea who could have been on our property to commit this awful act. We do however have some theories of what could have possibly happened. None of them justify the fact a trespasser coming on to OUR land and murdering OUR beloved Chicken Nugget in a fenced off horse trap with 4 other horses. One theory of ours is a poacher did this to him that was spotlighting.... the problem is, you don't mistake him as a deer within such a short distance while being with 4 other horses!!!!!

I've gone from crying to mad to absolute basket case all within 24 hrs. Rylee is confused, sad, happy (when we talk about our sweet memories), mad, and devastated. She has been through more then most 5 year olds ever have. Please continue to pray for our family and especially Rylee Klare.

 

Vanessa Child shared Kylee Allen Brett's photo.
November 9 at 10:04pm ·
If this picture doesn't speak volumes
I don't know what will.
I honestly hope the person who intentionally killed this little girls miniature horse see's this because they are lower than scum.
I pray this low life pos is found and pays for taking chicken nugget away from the Brett family especially Rylee
Kylee Allen Brett you all have been heavy on my mind
I hope you guys get justice for him.
anyone in and around the hull texas area in Liberty county
keep your eyes and ears open.

Kylee Allen Brett
November 10 at 12:32pm ·
UPDATE 11/10/17: the sheriffs department just left the ranch. They truly were concerned about our issue and made me feel a little better after talking with them. They feel very confident in solving the death of Chicken Nugget.

Thank you Channel 2 News for pushing the story to get Justice. Thank you Fox 26 for airing the story and helping spread the word! Thank you Houston chronicle for sharing our story as well. Thank you to my Family and friends, words cannot come to my mind at the moment to express my love and thankfulness. Y'all really have got us through this. Thank you to the complete strangers that I now consider friends, that have reached out and blessed us with so many prayers and well wishes.

I am doing my very best to respond to all messages. I apologize if I haven't wrote you back yet, as you can see our family has been overwhelmed with so much love and support. Again, thank you all for everything! I will continue to update you on the situation as much as possible. Please continue to pray as we get justice for our sweet Chicken Nugget.
-Kylee Brett

Kylee Allen Brett posted on Facebook November 11, 2017 ·
PLEASE SHARE!
UPDATE ON CHICKEN NUGGET 11/11/17: no new news on the investigation, but some absolutely WONDERFUL news from supporters... Rylee was gifted Chicken Nuggets sister, from what was an absolute stranger to forever family friend now.

We were so reluctant to add another pony to our family at this time. So many people have asked me, "why wouldn't you just get her another pony and she can heal faster". I can quickly say Chicken Nugget WAS NOT A PONY. He was our child, Rylees brother, and a huge part of our family. He was the only ears that would listen to my Father in laws rambling and still continue to come back everyday to hear more. The cows breakfast/lunch/dinner partner. The horses pit boss. The one to put the biggest smile on your face in any kind of situation.

He was really so much more then just a pony. Since we were offered Chicken Nuggets sister, Rylee made the choice that she wanted her. I know so many kind and generous people have offered their own family pony, or to buy Rylee a pony, or donate money to get Rylee a new pony.

We are so grateful for the offers and know people truly care and love us. We do not want to profit off of any of this and hope people understand, we are not denying your help or trying to be disrespectful in declining your offer. The very sweet and generous gentleman that gifted Rylee with Chicken Nuggets sister set up a go fund me for the hauling and vet cost to get her to Rylee.

Any money that is made over the amount it cost to haul is being donated to SpiritHorse Liberty in Rylee and Chicken Nuggets name. This is a absolutely wonderful organization that has always has every bit of my respect and holds a special place in my heart. If you would like to contribute this is a legit go fund me page and i have shared it in my page for you to see.

We have been asked so many times now if JUSTICE FOR CHICKEN NUGGET shirts are being made. This really was no idea of mine, but brought up after a little joke was made... we are finding anything we can to smile right now. I guess people really want to get these made. I am going to talk to a family friend that makes shirts. How do y'all feel about the shirts if all proceeds also go to Spirit Horse in Liberty? I would love y'alls opinions and feedback on this.
Last but not least: I have had every emotion in the book. After the sheriffs department left yesterday they really made me feel more comfortable in finding the shooter. My feelings in this as of right now are:

You killed our beloved Chicken Nugget on OUR LAND!!!! So many people have asked us if it could possibly be a hunting accident. Well, when you trespassed and came on private property you can no longer call it an accident in my book. You invaded our horses home, our home, and my other family members home. There are many theories on how far the bullet traveled to reach Chicken Nugget. We have been told several things. Some say very close range some say 50/60 yards. Either way the distance of the bullet doesn't matter to me. The shooter disrespected my family and took a huge part of everyone's lives. Whoever did this shot right next to a place of residence and could obviously tell there was a home, barn, and pipe fence... it was not a wooded area. After they saw what they did they ran like the COWARD they are. This is my view on it and I want this person to pay!!!

Please continue to pray! If you know anything please contact the sheriffs department and help find justice for Chicken Nugget!

Help ship Rylee Brett new horse
Created November 10, 2017
Jeff Lisowski
  Animals
  BELEN, NM
$1,610 of $1,200 goal
Raised by 25 people in 1 day
Rylee Brett(age 5) lost her best friend to someone shooting him on the family's ranch in Texas. I have agreed to give Rylee a new miniature horse in order to give this poor child a new best friend.
We are looking for donations to help cover the cost of shipping and vet work needed to accomplish this.
Any amount you can help with would be greatly appreciated.

 

 

 

(The Sacramento Bee - Nov 10, 2017)