Neglected, Skinny, Halter grown into his face, Cancerous eye, Long feet, Bad teeth… and he’s only 10 years old!: Meet Harley, our January Bucket Fund Belgian.






Harley has been half of a team his whole life.  He worked and worked and worked but when he developed an eye problem, he was let go without benefits – if you get my drift…

Harley is a victim of the, “Aw, he’s just a horse” syndrome.

This huge, gentle Belgian gelding was getting ready for the long drive down the slippery slope to the meat factory… except someone found out.

Harley forgotten in a sand pasture, skinny and suffering eye cancer.

 

BHFER TO THE RESCUE

Beauty’s Haven Farm and Equine Rescue was first to the scene.

Upon arrival, they expected to see a gelding with an eye issue.  What they found was worse and doubly sad…

Harley had a lifelong partner who was stuck there and neglected as well.

Both had their halters growing into their faces.  They both are too skinny, have way overgrown feet, diarrhea, bad teeth, are underweight and are living in a sand paddock with no shelter (or flymasks in Florida) and eating all the wrong food.

On top of that, Harley has very serious and later stage cancer in his eye.  To Theresa, Harley’s spirit is dying along with his eye.  She HATED leaving him that first afternoon.

If the eye has to go, at least they can save it from spreading to his brain.

THE VET

Theresa returned the next day with the vet for evaluation on Harley.

Once there, Theresa begged the farmer to release Harley’s partner as well.

Nope.  That one can still work…

Ugh.

So Theresa left that argument for another day.  At least she had negotiated Harley’s release.

Harley was very sweet and willing with the vets and helpers. They hated to leave him.

 

SQUAMOUS CELL CARCINOMA

Dr. Ryan says that Harley needs surgery immediately if there is any chance to save the eye and before the cancer spread to his brain.

BHFER is going to pick up Harley today (Thursday), no matter what, with the hope that they receive enough donations to cover his transportation, surgery, meds, recovery and all the other care he needs.

His halter is part of his face now - that will change today.

THE PARTNER

Secretly, I hope there will be enough in the Bucket Fund to help with Harley’s surgery AND enough funds to offer the farmer money for Harley’s lifelong partner to come live in the lovely arms of BHFER, too.

They have never, ever been apart.  Harley is 10, his unnamed partner is 9.

They both look much older right now…

Harley (facing us) with his lifelong partner. Sadly, the farmer would not release his partner because he can still work. We hope to change this...

LET’S HELP BHFER

Let’s help BHFER restore life and health to Harley and provide his immediately surgery!  Let’s help BHFER try to purchase Harley’s sad and neglected partner.  We know we can make a huge difference in Harley’s life… and I’m praying that the farmer lets his other half come to safely, too.  Thank you!

If you receive this post via email, click here to donate!
(UPDATE:  WE ARE AT OUR GOAL!  SINCE THERESA HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO GET THE PARTNER HORSE – YET – THE BUCKET FUND IS COMPLETE.   THANK YOU – YOU ALL ROCK!)
To watch the donation thermometer rise, click here.

 

Thank you!!

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9 comments have been posted...

  1. sheri

    Let us know if you need funds to buy the other horse from the Farmer Please and Thank You .
    We herer at tne Nevada B Ranch Musatang Sanctuary a non Profit organization ahave taken in an older team of Belgians thqat ahve been together for nineteen years.
    Partnership is Everything to us and to the team.
    Sheri L Avis
    Director

  2. Pingback: Harley the Belgian

  3. Elaine Nash

    Thank you, Linda! Horse and Man, please post all your cases on our Homeseekers and Heroes page on Facebook. We always try to help.

  4. dawndi Post author

    Theresa works very closely with Animal Control… but sometimes it is easier and faster to let her work her magic and ‘sieze’ the horses herself. There is a backstory. Trust her on this one.

  5. barbara

    Where is animal control, and why are they not working on siezing these animals? I’m all for rescueing them but the owner should be held accountable for his actions ( or in this case of neglect..non action). Buying the other and taking the sick off this guys hands is enabling his behavour.

  6. Linda Horn

    I’m going to post this on “Homeseekers and Heros”. Does anyone know how to get it up on Alex Brown’s site?

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