DIXIE COUNTY ADVOCATE, CROSS CITY, FLORIDA THURSDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2006 "RESCUED" Continued from page 1 Approximately 6 of the horses, mainly stallions, seemed to be in fairly good shape. The reason for this explained Silver, is that those horses were dominate over the others, feeding first and leaving little, if anything for the weaker and younger ones. There was an addition to the herd on Thursday night, as one of the mares gave birth. The foal was reported to be in good condition and was being cared for by a good Samaritan. Silver stated in a phone interview that one of the worst of the mares died on Friday. "The trip was too much for her, she was so weak and so depleted of nourishment that her muscles were failing her," Silver stated. The mare struggled to stay up, but her frail body finally gave up the battle. In with-the horses and donkeys was a pony named "Lucy". Unfortunately she had to be put down late Friday. Silver explained that after the veterinarian checked her over, it was determined the infection that she had was so severe that it had already gone into her bones. "It was hard, she was so sweet," stated Silver. If it was any consolation, Lucy's last few days were spent in a clean environment, with food, fresh water, and lots of love. All of the horses, many of whom are young, or "babies" as Silver put it, were taken to the University of Florida Veterinarian Hospital. There their wounds were treated, blood tests given for Coggins, and cultures of their wounds taken so they would receive the correct medication. Another area of concern for the animals was the condition of their hooves. "It is very important that horses' feet are properly cared for," stated Silver. She noted that because of the weight that horses' feet carry, they should be kept cleaned and trimmed. Any crack or infection could bring a horse down. When asked what it was going to take to bring the animals back to health, Silver stated that it is a slow process, and sometimes, even when you think you have them back to a good weight, they still might not make it. "We really won't know what damage has been done to their organs until later," Silver stated. "But right now they are being fed high quality orchard and alfalfa hay, small quantities of grain ( 2 cups 4 times a day), pro-bionic enzymes (which helps with their digestion), minerals and lots of grass to graze on." Silver also stated they are working with the babies, teaching them not to be afraid. "It is obvious they had not been handled much, or not at all." I asked Silver why a person would abandon their animals, allowing them to starve. She stated there are several reasons why these kinds of situations occur. One is that people many times buy horses, thinking they are going to make a lot of money off breeding and raising them; only to find out the market isn't that profitable and by the time they buy just the basics like feed, they aren't making anything. The owners become overwhelmed, eventually cutting back on the feed, and in some cases stop altogether. Another scenario is hoarding. This is when people take on too many animals they can not take care of. You hear more about this type of problem happening with cats and dogs and even in their own houses. There is something that makes these hoarders continue to collect, even though they can't afford to care for the animals. And what is even harder to believe is that they don't really see what they are doing to them. Silver said that people need to know from the start that raising horses is a very expensive operation. "It isn't like feeding a dog," she stated. Horses are high maintenance. They require specific foods that are sometimes expensive, as well as training and veterinarian care. People can quickly get in over their heads and then the animal suffers and folks like those at HPAF have to step in. HPAF is a non-profit, 501, horse welfare organization. It is supported solely by donations and volunteers are essential in helping with the care of the animals they rescue. Its mission is to provide rescue, rehabilitation, education and adoption services for horses that have been abandoned and/or abused. Once the animals are ready, HPAF works to find new owners who will continue to care for the horses and let them live out their lives in dignity. If you would like to help these horses with a donation, you can do so by sending in your donation to Horse Protection Association of Florida, 20690 NW 130 h Ave., Micanopy, FL, or visit their website at www.hpaf.org, or you can call (352) 466-4366. Working with the owners, via telephone, O'Neal and Sheriff Hatcher agreed to let a designated person, chosen by the Anglen's, to release many of the horses to those who wished to help the animals; providing they had the land and financial means to care for the sick horses. The Dixie County Humane Society took four horses and 4 donkeys to adopt out. The owners, who are truck drivers, were north last week, stated to investigators they had paid someone to feed the horses in their absence, but would not name that person. There have been several calls from residents speculating who that person might be, but without the Anglens divulging that person's name, little can be done by law enforcement. The Anglans will be facing 33 counts each of Animal Cruelty and Animal Abandonment. Animal Cruelty is a felony and Animal Abandonment is a misdemeanor. Secretary Urges Floridians To Become Pollworkers For The Upcoming Election TALLAHASSEE, FL - Secretary of State Sue M. Cobb urges Florida voters to become pollworkers for the November 7th election. On Election Day, the Supervisors of Elections are among the largest employers of their counties, hiring thousands of workers statewide to work the polls. "One of the most important roles on Election Day is filled by friendly, dedicated, front line representatives of the Supervisors of Elections," said Secretary Cobb. "Pollworker training is being conducted state wide. I encourage all registered voters to call your local Supervisor of Election's office to receive information on working at the polls on Election Day." Poll workers are highly trained individuals who assist Florida's citizens in the important process of casting their ballots. Across the state, Supervisors of Elections are recruiting those who enjoy interacting with the public. To .become a poll worker, you must be an American citizen and registered voter. These are paid positions and training is provided. To find out more about becoming a poll worker Floridians can contact their local Supervisor of Elections or call the Division of Elections at 850.245.6200 to be connected with their local elections supervisor. In Florida, 61,657 citizens served as poll workers during the 2004 election cycle. "MAP" Continued from page 1 Guaranto Springs Park, the old train trestle in Old Town that is now part of the Nature Coast Greenway & Trail, and City of Hawkinsville 19th century steamboat that now lies at the bottom of the Suwannee on the Dixie County side, are showcased on the map; proving that Dixie's ecotourism is alive and well. For the more adventuresome folks, you can go off the beaten path and explore the many small towns that showcase the areas' rich history and culture. Even if you aren't planning to jump in a boat and paddle the river, you will want one of these maps that take you through the "Many Faces, Many Moods of The Suwannee." You can get your copy of the map or more information on the Suwannee Wilderness Trail by calling 1-800-868- 9914 or visiting their website at www.suwanneeriver.com. Riess Graduates From Basic Training Army Pfc. Aaron D. Riess has graduated from basic infantry training' at Fort Benning, Columbus, Ga. During the nine weeks of training, the soldier received training in drill and ceremonies, weapons, map reading, tactics, military courtesy, military justice, physical fitness, first aid, and Army history, core values and traditions. Additional training included development of basic combat skills and battlefield operations and tactics, and experiencing use of various weapons and weapons defenses available to the infantry crewman. He is the son of Richard and Selena Riess of S.E. Second St., Trenton, Fla. The private is a 2004 graduate of Trenton High School. J-JJL^Ji^ (NAPS)-You can rent tools for a day, the weekend or as long as it takes to finish a proj- ect. For example, The Home Depot Tool Rental Center, which are in more than 1,175 locations around the country, provides homeowners with up to 325 different types of tools. The center also provides hands-on training on most rental equipment, as well as a list of tips on most fre- quently rented tools. For more information, visit homede pot.com or call (800) 430-3376. TRINKETS TO TREASURES Your unwanted trinkets could be the treasure someone has been searching for. Don't discard them-list in the classified for an easy sell. CALL CLASSIFIED (352) 498-3312 Are You Prepared? Call Us To Find Out! LANGSTON INSURANCE 179 NE 35z Hwy P.O. Box 670 Cross City, FL 32628 Ph. (352) 498-3328 *Betty Mills *Tommy Cooper Advocate DEADLINES Articles, Birthday's, Wedding & Birth Announcements, and Display Ads Monday @ 5:00 Classified Ads Tuesday @ Noon JOSEPH LITTlLE CONCRETE SERVICES, INC. Specializing In *Foundations *Driveways *Sidewalks *Patios Licensed Phone & Insured (352) 498-0649 License #0404 Cell (352) 210-0415 Elect "TROY" MICKEY T. JOHNSON for COUNTY COMMISSIONER DISTIRCT 4 RIGHT TIME, RIGHT MAN, for the RIGHT REASON *A Man of Honesty & Integrity *Dedicated & Loyal to the People of Dixie County *Strong Family & Moral Values *Concerned about the Economic Future & the Growth of Dixie County *Ability to Analyze & Understand the Importance of Making a Good Decision Feel Free To Discuss Your Concerns (352) 498-7169 Political Advertisement Paid For & Approved By Mickey Troy Johnson, No Party Affiliation, for County Commissioner, District 4 -