We posted stories about these neglected horses in “Copiah County Landowner Charged with ‘Animal Cruelty’ in horse Case,” and “Neglected Horses’ Owner has Prior Livestock Theft Charges.” Thank you to Alicia and Scott Armstrong, the Arabian Rescue Mission (ARM), Stop Shipping Horses to Slaughter, and to all of the caring individuals who have helped to save the remaining horses.
SOURCE: myfoxal.com
Copiah County horses: From slaughter to Salvation
Posted by Marsha Thompson
Source: WLBT
JACKSON, MS (Mississippi News Now) – A miracle is in the making. Rescue organizations from around the nation united to rescue 65 horses and mules headed to slaughter from Copiah County.
Chilling photo’s of dead horses stunned Mississippians. They were found by Alicia and Scott Armstrong on a farm in Copiah county about a month ago. “It was a nightmare. I mean there’s no easy way around it, it was terrible,” said Armstrong.
Our coverage captured attention nationwide. Doctor Tai Curry-Fox with Mississippi Equine Sports Medicine, LLC received the initial call for help.
“I actually received the phone from Alicia Armstrong while she was on the premises, begging what can I do, can you come out here,” said Dr. Curry-Fox.
Over 100 horses and mules, purchased at auctions, intended to be fattened up and sent to slaughter. Animal activists tell us the animals were in a critical situation.
Jerry Earls was paid by Arkansas businessman Mitch Stanley to provide feed and care. Authorities say that care was never provided.
“If the Armstrongs had never stepped foot on that property, nobody would have even known this was going on,”according to Dr. Curry-Fox.
Earls a convicted felon, was busted on 4 counts of animal neglect, MBAH charged Earls with 13 criminal counts for not burying the dead horses.
Justice for Copiah County Horses raised awareness, and outrage, prompting activist and strangers from around the world to rally around the horses and mules that were hauled to Texas December 18 by Stanley.
Money was raised and rescue groups bought the herd. No one knows what shape they will be in after a 16 hour ride back without food or water.
“Some horses will seem to be okay and some are going to have that constant immune dispute with their body,” said the vet. Those are the ones that will take a little bit more time to recoup.”
Here are a few necessary supplies Arabian Rescue Mission and other organizations need: Halters, lead ropes, wormers, and wound care.
“With their hoof conditions, I know you guys have seen all the pictures, vet wrap is a necessity,” said Dr. Curry-Fox.
Rescue organizations report volunteers are en route to meet the herd that has caused quote: “A nation to come together over the holiday.”
“This is a miracle isn’t it. It is a miracle from the time that this all started and to receive enough donations to move these horses back, it took a lot of people.”
In the end, horses and mules survived the march to death and are now on the long ride back home to greener pastures at Little Creek Ranch in Glen, Mississippi. Once the horses are assessed and cared for, they will eventually be adopted out.
ARM and SSHS posted the following message on Facebook:
“Please bear with us as we prepare to leave and meet this herd that has caused a nation to come together over the holiday. Barring unforeseen circumstances, the herd will be on their way to Little Creek Ranch and legally belong to us, one week from the day we started. It has felt like forever, but it is finally here!
I want to thank Little Creek Ranch for having us and every one of you for helping in this and hope that you will continue to support these horses, ARM and SSHS.
Over the weekend we will be documenting, cataloging and identifying horses. Updates will be slow in coming but will be posted each night. Most humane societies do not let pictures be taken at this point but I feel to keep you updated properly and to educate everyone on what exactly happens to these horses, pictures are necessary. Some may be graphic.
Please, if you feel strongly about this and the content, sign the change.org petition, write letters, do what you can to STOP this nightmare and abuse from continuing.
We will need volunteers to help with the care of the horses until they are placed. If you are interested in adopting, fostering or have room at your rescue, download your application off the Arabian Rescue Mission website, We need all the help we can get.
The farm is Little Creek Ranch, 181 CR 345, Glen MS 38846. So please c’mon out and get your hands dirty to help these horses. They deserve it and you’d be amazed how good you will feel.
Categories: Equine Rescue, Horse News, Horse Slaughter
Straight from the Horse's Heart 
Is there any indication any of these (I hesitate to say lucky but many were rescued) horses were from Sheldon, or were/are BLM branded wild horses?
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none of the photos posted so far show any having a BLM brand .. most appear to be domestic horses and mules
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Storm Dancer: I will look everything up. Thanks
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IcySpots … I asked if any could be wild horses from Sheldon since those would not have the BLM brand .. i was told they all appear to be tame, domestic horses, all have no issues with humans being around them or near them as you would expect from wild horses especially ones that just came off the range not that long ago and have had little to no human interaction.
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SD, thanks! Since we know the Sheldon horses have disappeared into various parts of MS I was wondering. I sincerely hope all slaughter options will soon be foreclosed so we won’t find anyone wanting to hoard any horses for that purpose.
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Would you put clear instructions for donations of requested items and MONEY!!!
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this is copy and pasted from the ARM & SSHS in MS FB page
We will need volunteers to help with the care of the horses until they are placed. If you are interested in adopting, fostering or have room at your rescue, download your application off the website, http://www.arabianrescue.org/ We need all the help we can get. The farm is Little Creek Ranch, 181 CR 345, Glen MS 38846. So please c’mon out and get your hands dirty to help these horses. They deserve it and you’d be amazed how good you will feel.
Accounts have been set up at the feed store and vet below under the name Copiah County Horses. Donations can be made either through our website or directly to them and they both take cc’s by phone:
Roy’s Feed, 511 Cox St., Corinth MS 38834 – (662)286-9223
Kay Locke & McGee Veterinary Clinic, 811 S. Tate St., Corinth MS 38834 – (662)286-3304
We will also need supplies. Our wish list for the Copiah County Horses:
Tractor Supply Gift Cards
Water Troughs
Dewormers
F/S Halters
Leadlines
Furazin Ointment
Bute
Antibiotics (SMZs, Naxcel)
DMSO Gel
Betadine scrub
Gauze Pads
Telfa Non-Stick Pads (small & large)
Cotton Sheeting
Vet Wrap
Duct Tape
Standing Wraps
Pillow Wraps
Grooming Tools
Wheelbarrows
Future Forks (manure forks)
Shavings
Hay (Square and Roundbales)
Pelleted Grain
Dormosedan Paste
Injectable Tranquilizer
Salt/Mineral Blocks
Gallons of Bleach/Clorox
And COFFEE, lots and lots of coffee!
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Storm Dancer or whomever know’s what’s happening now: How is the Ranch doing with the rescued horse’s? Hope the box of goodies made it and can be put to use. Have all been rescued? Just wondering….
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your welcome Pat
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SSHS stands for Stop Shipping Horses to Slaughter a rescue based out of Florida and run by Renee Paxton
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Storm Dancer, thank you for the correction. There was a typo in the original post.
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your welcome Debbie
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Storm Dancer you’re the greatest. Thanks for making this so much clearer and the actual phone#’s for $ donations is fabulous. That is so much better than wasting time/money on orders. I’m sure their phones will be ringing off the wall now!!!! Happy New Year to you and everyone that helps out!
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Thanks to all who helped save these horses!!!
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Donations can be mailed to: Little Creek Ranch, 181 CR 345, Glen MS 38846. I also saw them on Facebook. I am not part of this rescue, but a horse advocate that has been following this story from the beginning. This was a massive undertaking of all persons involved. Bless them all and anyone that helped with donations to make this all happen.
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I am so happy to hear of their rescue. I wish I was closer to help with their care. God Bless All who helped in this rescue from hell.
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Such an ugly human must be put away in prison for at least 30 years, and his land be taken way from him, and donated to a Horse Rescue agency. He must never be allowed to be near any animal ever again. He deserves to be starved and neglected and imprisoned to see how he feels, the bastard
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These precious and deserving horses were saved from the most evil of people.
Plaudit to all involved in this rescue, I salute you!
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I am really shocked that this article ran on this blog knowing the reality of what really happened here. Kill Buyers The Stanley Brothers was paid $40,000.00 for those horses. 65 horses saved and enough money paid to kill buyers funding more than 450 to go to slaughter in their place. When will advocates start using logic ? If that money would have been spent at auction to save horses would it have not been best to save and prevent more than 450 from this horrible fate ? Now that those horses have been ( Saved ) Who is going to feed and vet them ? The donors as those of us who are well versed in the slaughter/rescue industry know all to well that this holds great potential to still end in disaster leaving responsible Orgs to clean up the mess. I as everyone else wish they could all be saved but common sense was obviously on vacation with this one.
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