An 11-day-old foal is adjusting well three days after being found malnourished and neglected. The young horse's mother was been euthanized because of an untreatable infection. Owner Janet M. Spears of Sublimity has been charged with two counts of animal neglect.
Marion County Sheriff's deputies visited both horses on Sunday after they were called to a field in the 14000 block of Triumph Road Southeast, Salem.
A foal found by Marion County Sheriff's Office deputies is recovering, but its mother was euthanized and its owner has been charged with animal neglect.
Dr. Barbara Kahl / United SPCA
They found a 12-year-old mare with a wound that stretched from her nose to her eyes. Deputies hoped that United Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals officials in Yamhill would be able to treat the horse. But veternarian Dr. Barbara Kahl said the animal had extensive health problems, including internal masses, a split left foot and gangrene. It was also unable to produce milk for her foal. The older horse was euthanized while under anesthesia.
The foal was malnourished, but United SPCA volunteers fed it every two hours until a nurse mare could be found. By Wednesday, the foal had formed a connection with her new nurse mare, Dr. Kahl said. United SPCA officials have high hopes that it will fully recover.
According to the Marion County Sheriff's Office, horse owner Spears said that she thought the mare's infected wound would heal on its own. She is scheduled to go to court on July 24 on animal neglect charges.
