UPPER MARLBORO, Md. (7News) — One of the zebras that escaped from a farm in Prince George's County was found dead Thursday in a snare trap. The Maryland Natural Resources Police responded to private property in Upper Marlboro in Prince George's County and found the deceased zebra in a snare trap near a field.
The animal is believed to be among the zebras that previously escaped from a farm in Prince George's County.
Police say it is illegal to set snare traps in Maryland. At this time, the police do not have any information on who placed the trap.
When raising livestock for meat, farmers must follow one hard and fast rule: You can’t care about the animals you care for. Which isn’t to say you can’t respect and honor the creatures you’re tasked with raising. I believe you should, in fact, play and talk with your feeder hogs to make their life as good as possible. But you can’t love them, or else you’ll depart the processor in tears every time.
It’s simple pragmatism, but to the outsider looking in, this attitude can seem callous, especially when coupled with the livestock farmer’s other rule against keeping animals who don’t pull their weight. When budgets get tight—and farm budgets are, by nature, very tight—it doesn’t make dollars and sense to keep an old animal around just because.
Which is exactly what we’re doing with George Clooney, the 700-plus-pound Berkshire boar.
Along with freezing cold winters, a small Siberian village outside of Barnaul, Russia, is also known for a high population of cats. The growth of resident felines is such that one local farmer, Alla Lebedeva, has started referring to her property as “Catland.”
In an interview with Design YouTrust, Lebedeva revealed that she and her husband Sergey are partially responsible for the town’s swelling number of feline residents. “How many do we have now? To such a question I usually answer ‘a million, maybe more,’” she said.
The Lebedevas started feeding this especially large, furry breed when they realized how efficient Siberian cats were protecting their other farm animals.
Chestnut horses, or “red” horses vary in shade from almost honey gold, to orangey red, to copper, chocolate and almost black. The color is due to various forms and densities of the red pigment phaeomelanin. The darkest shades of chestnut are called liver chestnut. In some breeds, especially Western breeds such as the American Quarter Horse, the term sorrel is used for light chestnut horses (see the first photo of a sorrel miniature horse on the left). Sometimes I've even seen the term sorrel used interchangeably with chestnut, with people describing darker chestnut horses as sorrel. In some countries, such as the UK, many horsey people may not even have heard of the term sorrel in connection with horses. Some chestnut horses are so light that, if they also have a flaxen mane and tail, they may look palomino. Haflinger ponies, for example, are well known for being a beautiful light chestnut with light manes and tails. It is likely that sorrel is genetically distinct from chestnut, at least in some breeds. To read more on this story, click here:Chestnut Horses
Life is hard, and sometimes we just don’t feel like doing as we’ve been told to do. Jingang is a horse that definitely feels that sentiment to his core. Not all horses like to be ridden, and Jingang falls right into that category—literally. He’s found a rather unique and hilarious way to protest his discontent. Instead of bucking a person off, Jingang finds it best to pretend to play dead anyone someone tries to ride him. Perhaps Jingang knows its Oscar season, because if you ask me, he’s worthy of an Academy Award for his hilariously dramatic antics.
The farm is dedicated to fostering relationships among its sanctuary animals and the people who visit.
PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY, Va. — A rescue farm in Prince William County is in danger of closing. Hope and Serenity Farm Sanctuary has rescued nearly 150 animals and works closely with people who suffer from depression, anxiety or PTSD.
The owners of the non-profit spent years helping not just the animals, but the people who visit them. Now, they are the ones who need help and the community has stepped up in a big way.
President Renee Small said she gets to see miracles happen every week.
"It’s been my dream to make this come to fruition and to see everybody working together and all of this happening is just, I cannot describe how good it makes me feel," said Small.
Animals are voiceless and rely on humans to stand up for them, but the recently passed Bill 156 in Ontario, Canada, just made it illegal to expose animal abuse on farms.
Bill 156, the Security from Trespass and Protecting Food Safety Act, is a typical Ag-Gag law making it illegal for employees or undercover activists to report the animal abuse they witness on farms, and prohibiting protesters from documenting transport conditions of animals arriving at slaughterhouses
On May 24, 2018, Chuck and Deb Beldo welcomed a truly rare phenomenon on their farm in. So rare, in fact, that it only ever happens in one in 11.2 million cases! “I’ve been around cows my whole life, and I’ve never seen anything like it before,” Deb told CBS Local. One of the cows on their farm got pregnant for a third time. Her previous two births were to single healthy calves. To read more on this story, click here:Farmer Thinks Cow Is Pregnant With One Calf But During Labor The Babies Keep Dropping To Ground
FOLLOW US!
A gigantic steer that some consider the largest in Australia has become a viral sensation. The cow is named “Knickers” and stands at 76 inches at the shoulder, towering over other cows, its owner said, adding that the cow almost as tall as Michael Jordan. It weighs about 3,086 pounds and lives on a farm in Myalup, located 85 miles south of Perth, Australia. Knickers is a Holstein-Friesian, a dairy breed known for being quite tall, according to an industry website about the animals. “Holsteins are most quickly recognized by their distinctive color markings and outstanding milk production. Holsteins are large cattle with color patterns of black and white or red and white,” it says. On average, Holsteins weigh about 1,500 pounds and are 58 inches tall at the shoulder. Geoff Pearson, the owner, said he tried to auction Knickers in October, but meat processors said they couldn’t handle the size. “Knickers lives on,” Pearson told the BBC. To read more on this story, click here:Gigantic Cow Called ‘Knickers’ Weighs More Than a Car, Is as Tall as Michael Jordan
Yes, miniature cattle are a real breed and yes, they really are this adorable. If you don’t have enough room on your land for a herd of big cows, consider getting minis for smaller acreage. They still produce milk like regular cows but don’t need as much space and don’t do as much damage to your land as normal-sized cattle might. Miniature bull cows generally stand at 36 to 42 inches at the hip, which means they are about half the size of a full-size cow. To read more on this story, click here:Mini Cows For Your Mini Farm
QUANTICO, Md. — With a brisk wind blowing under gray skies, Wicomico County Sheriff Mike Lewis stood in front of a farm trying to describe what he had just seen behind the house. "The siding — aluminum siding — was eaten off the house, and fiberglass insulation had been pulled out," said a visibly shaken Lewis on Saturday. "Those horses were so hungry, they had broken the glass sliding doors on the back of the house, trying to get in and find something to eat. There's mud and broken glass all around the back of the house." More than two dozen dead horses in varying degrees of decay were discovered at the farm and reported to the sheriff's office Friday morning, which is when an investigation at the 2.13-acre property began. The land is owned by Clayton P. and Barbara L. Pilchard, according to Maryland property records. Marjie Cancil, who lives near the farm, drove past Saturday afternoon and stopped to see what was happening. To read more on this story, click here:Starving Horses Ate Aluminum Siding Off House, Sheriff Says as Crews Clean Up Bodies in Maryland
FOLLOW US!
National Horse Protection Day was created to bring light to
the plight of horses in America and beyond and help the thousands of unwanted
horses in this country to find forever homes.
The horse has a legendary mystic on the American
culture. It helped to forge a nation and
yet despite that many go unwanted, abused or neglected. National Horse Protection Day is about
addressing those issues.
How to Observe
Do you have the means and ability to adopt? Perhaps you
have spare time or an interest in horse husbandry. Check out the website below for more
information on ways to get involved. Use #HorseProtectionDay to post on social
media.
History
National Horse Protection Day was founded in 2005 by Pet
Lifestyle Expert and Animal Behaviorist/Advocate, Colleen Page.
Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban are known for living a quiet
life outside of Hollywood in their Nashville mansion.
And now the notoriously down-to-earth couple are reportedly
set to become even more anti-Tinseltown - by converting their Tennessee farm
into a wildlife sanctuary.
According to the latest issue of New Idea, the twosome are
keen to follow in the footsteps of Steve and Terri Irwin, and want their
daughters, Faith and Sunday, to be raised around nature like Bob and Bindi
were.
“It was Nicole's idea to create the wildlife sanctuary for
their girls,” New Idea quotes grocer Bobby Saucier as saying, who manages a
local restaurant that Keith reportedly buys sandwiches from.
He continued,” Nicole liked what the Irwins’ did for
Bindi... Spending time in a down-to-earth place like this, in the country, is
important to them.”
The happily married couple's 16-hectare farm sits in
Leiper's Fork and is worth $3.5 million. It's located just 25km from their luxury
$4.9 million dollar mansion in Nashville.
The stars currently split their time between their
Nashville home, L.A. for work, and Nicole's sprawling luxury farmhouse in rural
New South Wales.
New Idea reports that when in Nashville, Keith and Nicole
regularly come into town and mingle with the locals, and can often be spotted
getting ice cream with their kids or riding around the countryside on Keith's
motorcycle.
The 48-year-old country singer's work schedule is about to
become a lot less busy soon with the final season of American Idol, set to wrap
up in the next couple of months - giving him more time to focus on the wildlife
sanctuary.
Another celebrity couple with a home in Tennessee's
Leiper's Fork is Jessica Biel and Justin Timberlake, who own a $4 million
dollar estate on 126.63-acres.
Timberlake is also known for his love of wildlife, and has
previously visited the Irwins' Australia Zoo during his 2014 Australian tour
and even donated $100,000 to the zoo back in 2007.
Back to nature: Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban are
reportedly planning to turn their Tennessee farm into a sprawling wildlife
sanctuary.
Following in their footsteps: According to New Idea, the
Aussie couple were inspired by Steve and Terri Irwin.
"Nicole liked what the Irwins did for Bindi... Spending
time in a down-to-earth place like this, in the country, is important to them," grocer Bobby Saucier told New Idea.
Livin' large! The 16-hectare farm is located just 25km from
Nicole and Keith's $4.9 million dollar mansion in Nashville.
In good company: Nicole and Keith's farm is located in
Leiper's Fork, where fellow wildlife enthusiast Justin Timberake also happens
to own a multi-million dollar estate.
It’s time to take a look at the line between “pet” and
“animal.” When the ASPCA sends an agent to the home of a Brooklyn family to
arrest one of its members for allegedly killing a hamster, something is wrong.
That “something” is this: we protect “companion animals”
like hamsters while largely ignoring what amounts to the torture of chickens
and cows and pigs. In short, if I keep a pig as a pet, I can’t kick it. If I
keep a pig I intend to sell for food, I can pretty much torture it. State laws
known as “Common Farming Exemptions” allow industry — rather than lawmakers —
to make any practice legal as long as it’s common. “In other words,” as
Jonathan Safran Foer, the author of “Eating Animals,” wrote me via e-mail, “the
industry has the power to define cruelty. It’s every bit as crazy as giving
burglars the power to define trespassing.”
Meanwhile, there are pet police. So when 19-year-old
Monique Smith slammed her sibling’s hamster on the floor and killed it,
as she may have done in a fit of rage last week, an ASPCA agent — there are 18
of them, busily responding to animal cruelty calls in the five boroughs and
occasionally beyond — arrested her. (The charges were later dropped, though Ms.
Smith spent a night in jail at Rikers Island.)
In light of the way most animals are treated in this
country, I’m pretty sure that ASPCA agents don’t need to spend their time in
Brooklyn defending rodents.
In fact, there’s no rationality to be found here. Just a
few blocks from Ms. Smith’s home, along the M subway line, the city routinely
is poisoning rodents as quickly and futilely as it possibly can, though rats
can be pets also. But that’s hardly the point. This is: we “process” (that
means kill) nearly 10 billion animals annually in this country, approximately
one-sixth of the world’s total.
Benton, Louisiana — Horses grazed in a grassy pasture
outside of Holly Hill Farm, showing no signs of a bombing that occurred three
days ago — the result of an angry employee who may have been bearing a grudge.
Co-workers and neighbors say Douglas Holley, 54, of Benton,
was a quiet man who kept to himself. No one thought he was capable of what
police contend he carried out early Saturday: planting an explosive under the
bedroom of farm owners Bobby and Tracy Hewlett.
"He was a strange man," neighbor Connie Pajeski
said of Holley. "He was very intelligent, introverted. He liked animals
more than people."
At a Bossier Parish Sheriff's Office media conference
Monday afternoon, the Hewletts said Holley had developed a close connection
with one horse in particular, named Charlie, who later became ill with colic
and died six months before the bombing.
Bobby Hewlett, who works as a veterinarian in addition to
owning Holly Hill Farm, said the horse had the serious condition for several
days before Holley became aware of the problem. At that point, the veterinarian
told Holley that the horse was suffering and probably would need to be put to
sleep.
Holley protested, and Bobby Hewlett hooked the horse up to
intravenous treatments — in vain.
To assuage Holley's grief, the Hewletts bought a memorial
marker for the horse that read "Charlie: Doug's Beloved Friend." Work
resumed as normal.
Holley retained his reputation as a handyman, always
willing to help whomever needed his service.
That's why the explosion came as such a shock, said Ben
Hudson, who worked with Holley both on Holly Hill Farm and the adjacent Newtown
Farm.
"When I heard this, it blew my mind," Hudson
said. "He was a fine fellow. If you asked for help, he would help you. He
never seemed like he had a vendetta. But people called him a loner. He didn't
keep company."
Hudson said Holley had told him about the horse's death,
but when months passed, Hudson assumed Holley had come to terms and moved on.
Holley also told Hudson that he wanted nothing to do with women or
relationships, having been hurt by a woman in the past.
"He was a private guy," Hudson said. "He
made his life his work."
Holley, 54, is charged with two counts of attempted
first-degree murder and one count of manufacturing a bomb after investigators
found evidence of materials to create explosives inside of his house, located
on the northwest Louisiana farm about 350 miles from New Orleans, as well as
research and reading materials consistent with bomb-making. Holley initially
was arrested Saturday on weapons charges and an outstanding Caddo Parish, La.,
warrant.
His past court records show nothing more serious than a few
minor traffic citations.
Holley is being held at Bossier City Maximum Security
Facility, said Bill Davis, Bossier Parish sheriff public information officer.
Bond has been set at more than $6 million and no arraignment date has been set.
"There were items that were consistent with
bomb-making materials in the house," Davis said of the investigation into
Holley's residence. "The reality is that anyone could learn how to do
that. The sad reality is that someone would carry it out."
Barbara and George Newton, who live next door to Holly Hill
farm, said when they met Holley he seemed pleasant and personable. He
demonstrated a clear love for horses and the work he did for the farm.
George Newton said the couple knew about the death of
Holley's beloved horse.
"It was going to be a $10,000 operation. Bobby was a
realist about this. This guy wasn't. The horse was a friend," Newton said.
"He had a horse he cared a lot about. And it died. And the person who was
there when the horse died was Dr. Hewlett."
At the conference, Bobby Hewlett said he thought Holley
blamed himself for the horse's death but couldn't bear the guilt of that
responsibility — so Holley transferred the blame to him.
"He was always blaming someone. I became the object,
something he obsessed over for months," Bobby Hewlett said. "I don't
think either of us is mad at Doug. We're just disappointed."
Until the explosion, the Hewletts said they had a good
relationship with Holley and considered him a friend. Holley ate Christmas
dinner with them last year, and the Hewletts had provided him with housing and
a car for the first six months of his four-year employment at the farm.
Tracy Hewlett said he always was very polite.
Tracy Hewlett said Holley had mentioned listening to
right-wing radio and being anti-government to her daughter, but the couple was
shocked that his actions took such an extreme turn.
"It was pretty overwhelming when I found out, but then
I looked around and saw my family and everyone supporting us here and the
outpouring of love," Tracy Hewlett said.
Despite the circumstances, the Hewletts consider themselves
blessed and have no plans to stop being trusting and open.
"This was a miracle we survived an explosion in our
house. It was divine intervention. It wasn't our time, and there's a reason for
that," Tracy Hewlett said. "We're going to make the best of this
Christmas season."
Baker County, Florida - A family of farmers are shocked
after their cow gave birth to a two-headed calf.
The calf's name is Annabel and she was born Monday in the
middle of a field on the Crews family farm.
Carolyn Crews says she comes out to feed the two-headed calf
at least four times a day.
"It was just like a surprise because no one has even
seen anything like this around here," said Crews.
Or really anywhere, for that matter. A birth like this
happens every one in 400 million times.
Annabel has four eyes, two mouths, two noses and two ears
and two heads.
"I don't think it was meant to be for something like
this to live. You know, I don't think she's going to make it," said Crews.
She says they've reached out to a veterinarian, but the
doctor said there is nothing he can do.
"She might have pneumonia...I mean there is no
telling," said Crews.
Her heavy breaths are worrisome and her head is too heavy
for her body. She cannot walk, which means she cannot feed from mother.
However, she is unique, something the Crews family and many in Baker county say
they won't forget.
"I never dreamed of such a thing happening. It'll be
something that we probably never seen in our lifetime," said Crews.
A cow in Northeast Texas has apparently defied great odds and given birth to four calves that have been named Eeny, Meeny, Miny and Moo. "DNA tests will be done on tissue samples from the three bull calves and the one heifer calf to satisfy those who may question the births from one mother." said Jimmy Barling. "We knew she was pregnant, but we didn't know she was going to do this," the 76-year-old Barling said. "This was a shock." Barling's wife, Dora Rumsey-Barling, owns the couple's 20 cattle outside of DeKalb, near the Arkansas and Oklahoma borders. Rumsey-Barling's granddaughter named the four black calves Eeny, Meeny, Miny and Moo, Barling said. A local veterinarian, Mike Baird, called the March 16 births "extremely rare." He said the odds of four live births from one cow are 1 in 11.2 million. Baird knows the couple well and is nearly certain the four came from one mother, rather than a nearby cow perhaps birthing one or two and then moving along so that it appeared the four came from the Barling's cow. "In the interest of science and the animal world, it's one of those things that need to be verified beyond a shadow of a doubt," he said. The couple watched the birth of the fourth calf after going to check on her when they saw buzzards circling above a field. Because the mother cow is unable to nurse all four calves, the couple are relying on neighbors to help. Moo has stayed with her mother, while Eeny, Meeny and Miny are with two different caretakers. Meeny is the smallest of the calves, weighing in at about 25 pounds. A typical healthy birth weight for a calf is 75 pounds. Standing has also been difficult for some of the quadruplets.
You love your horse, so you no doubt want him to live a long and healthy life. To ensure this, you should become familiar with some of the common ailments that can affect horses. In addition, establish a relationship with a local equine vet as soon as you obtain your horse. Follow her advice on deworming and vaccinations—these will depend on your location because different diseases and parasites are more common in some areas than others. Lastly, observe your horse closely and learn what normal behavior is for him. Abnormal behavior may be your first clue that something is wrong. The sooner you detect a problem, the sooner you can take steps to fix it.
Colic
Colic is actually not one condition; it is a catchall name for several different serious digestive problems that commonly afflict horses. Make no mistake: You must deal with suspected colic immediately, as all forms can be fatal. The condition can be caused by a blockage of the intestines (caused by improper food, foreign objects, or other factors), excessive gas in the intestines (usually caused by a rapid change in diet), or the intestines becoming twisted (causes not well understood). Colic can also be caused by some gastrointestinal parasites.
The most serious type is colic that results from the intestines becoming twisted, which normally requires surgery to correct. Surgery for severe colic is expensive, and not all horses survive. This is why it is imperative to seek care at the first signs of colic.
If your horse exhibits the following signs, he may have colic: inappetence, constipation or infrequent bowel movements, signs of being in pain, repeated flehmen response, teeth clenching, salivation, stretching the legs out from the body (a position called “parking”), pacing, nipping at or looking at his sides, pawing the ground, getting up and down often, and frequent rolling. If your horse exhibits any of these signs, call your equine vet immediately
You can help prevent colic by feeding your horse a proper diet; ensuring that he always has clean water available; not allowing him to ingest dirt, sand, or other inappropriate materials; making any dietary changes gradually; and performing deworming regularly as recommended by your veterinarian.
Heaves
“Heaves” is the commonly used word for the medical condition known as recurrent airway obstruction (RAO). This is a chronic respiratory inflammation frequently caused by an allergic reaction to airborne particles. It bears some resemblance to asthma in humans. RAO is most often seen in horses who are in their stable a lot and exposed to dust and molds from old hay and straw.
The signs of heaves include shortness of breath (especially after exertion), moist coughing (often but not always producing copious phlegm), and wheezing. In severe cases, afflicted horses will struggle to breathe—this is a veterinary emergency! Horses who have heaves for a long time will develop “heave lines”—a prominent bulge of muscle along the ribs.
The best treatment and prevention for heaves is to keep your horse outside as much as possible. Additionally, eliminate sources of mold and dust by throwing out and replacing old hay and bedding, soaking hay in water before feeding, cleaning out his stall frequently, and anything else you can do to reduce your horse’s exposure to airborne particles. Once a horse has heaves, he may need to be medicated for the rest of his life, and his ability to work or perform may be limited.
Laminitis
Laminitis is an inflammation of certain internal structures of the hoof. This painful and serious condition causes lameness; the horse may lie down to try to relieve the pain in his hooves. The affected foot may feel hot to the touch.
There are numerous causes, most relating to some type of whole-body stress (trauma, colic surgery, hormonal disorders, etc.). Another common cause is eating too much grain. Other less common causes are untreated infections, working a horse on very hard ground (e.g., asphalt), reactions to drugs, and reactions to agricultural chemicals—especially herbicides and fertilizers.
If laminitis goes untreated, it may result in the horse becoming lame for life. Seek veterinary attention if you suspect that your horse has laminitis. Treatment may involve cryotherapy (cold packs), anti-inflammatory drugs, and/or orthotic devices.
Other Hoof Problems
Horses spend much of their time on their hooves, so it should come as no surprise that these important and complicated structures can suffer from a host of injuries and other problems. Check your horse’s hooves for sprung or shifted shoes, cracks, strange smells, or any other abnormalities after each time you ride him or he comes in from the pasture. If you find anything that looks like it might be a problem, contact your veterinarian or farrier.
Abscess
An abscess is an infectious pocket within a bodily cavity—in this case, within the hoof. Usually, this occurs after a foreign object, such as a nail or sharp stone, penetrates the hoof. If your horse has a hoof abscess, he will probably hold his leg up and be hesitant to put pressure on that foot due to the pain. Your veterinarian will open and drain the abscess; you will need to follow up with medication, poultices, soaking, or whatever else she prescribes.
Parasites
Horses, like any other animals who spend a lot of time outdoors, are often exposed to parasites. A wide range of parasitic organisms can afflict your horse, including ticks, lice, pinworms, tapeworms, roundworms, and lungworms. It is virtually impossible to remove all parasites from your horse; rather, you should seek to reduce his parasite load as much as possible.
Internal Parasites
Internal parasites (“endoparasites” to veterinarians) include a variety of worms that usually reside in the guts, although some may live in the lungs, liver, or other organs. Most of these parasites can be controlled through regular deworming as recommended by your equine vet. Additionally, reduce your horse’s exposure to possible sources of these pests by removing manure from paddocks and stalls frequently and by rotating and resting your pasture regularly.
External Parasites
External parasites (“exoparasites”) are bugs, worms, and other organisms that attach to your horse’s skin and feed on his blood. Ticks, lice, and pinworms are the most common types. If your horse is constantly rubbing his skin on objects (like he’s scratching an itch) and possibly losing hair, he likely has one of these bloodsuckers. Examine his mane and tail carefully for ticks, comb them out, and give your horse a thorough bath. Make sure that your regular deworming routine provides protection against pinworms. If you suspect lice, consult your veterinarian for proper treatment.
Tying Up
“Tying up” is one of many names for exertional rhabdomyolysis (ER); azoturia and Monday morning disease are some other common names for this syndrome, which can result in severe muscle damage or degeneration. There does not seem to be one definite cause for this problem. A sudden increase in a horse’s workload is always part of the cause, but other factors must exist along with the increased exertion to cause ER. These other factors include overfeeding grains, hard work after a long rest, mineral imbalances, selenium deficiency, vitamin E deficiency, hypothyroidism, wet or cold weather, and genetic predisposition. The signs of tying up are a stiff or stilted gait, soreness in the back or hind limbs, cramping, and reluctance to move. If your horse exhibits these signs, he needs immediate rest, and you must contact your veterinarian as soon as possible for treatment.