PORT ANGELES — A horse seized by the Clallam County Sheriff’s Office, which said it was severely underweight, is in guarded condition and recovering at a secret location, Deputy Tracey Kellas, Clallam County’s animal control officer, said Wednesday.
The older Arabian-cross mare, which was living on Black Diamond Road, should weigh about 850 pounds but was only about 600 pounds when she was seized Sept. 12, Kellas said.
The horse is owned by Laurie Parr of Port Angeles, Kellas said.
No charges were filed, and animal control officers are working with the owner, Kellas said.
On a weight and condition scale that ranges from 1-10 — with 5 being ideal and 10 being severely obese — the mare is a 1, or emaciated, Kellas said.
“She’s eating well,” Kellas said, adding that horses in bad condition cannot be fed too much too quickly, or they risk potentially fatal side effects.
Kellas said the mare was living in a pasture that had been entirely eaten down, and in the week before she was seized, she had been moved to a roped-off area where she could eat grass.
By Wednesday, the mare’s condition had improved enough that she could be given round-the-clock access to good-quality hay, and she is being slowly introduced to grains.
“We’d like to get a pound a day on her,” Kellas said.
Sheriff’s deputies investigated after receiving reports about the horse, which Kellas said had belonged to Parr “for a long time.”
The horse was estimated to be at least 20 years old. Arabian horses are known for long life spans, often living into their 30s.
Sheriff’s deputies, accompanied by an equine veterinarian, served a search warrant on the Black Diamond home last week and seized the mare, said Chief Criminal Deputy Ron Cameron on Wednesday.
The county’s budget to care for such animals is limited, Cameron said, and the Olympic Peninsula Humane Society has been asked to help provide feed and care for the mare.
Donations for the horse’s care can be made at any First Federal under “Animal Rescue” or dropped off at the Humane Society’s shelter at 2105 W. U.S. Highway 101.
Credit card donations can be made to the Humane Society by phoning 360-457-8206.
Donors are requested to specify that the donation is for the animal rescue fund. All donations are tax-deductible.
“The Sheriff’s Office is very grateful for the response and generosity our community always provides in these situations,” Cameron said.
Reporter Arwyn Rice can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5070, or at arwyn.rice@peninsuladailynews.com.
