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"They looked like the wrath of God when we saw them," said JoAnn Mauger of Chester County's Large Animal Protection Society, which coordinated the animals' care with the Humane League of Lancaster County after they were seized from a Holtwood farm, where the animals' owner was boarding them.
Meanwhile, a Humane League official said charges are pending against the animals' owner, who reportedly failed to feed them or seek veterinary care for them.
The three horses and seven mammoth donkeys — a large domestic breed — have all received veterinary care since being transported to foster homes coordinated by West Grove-based LAPS, a nonprofit organization that enforces laws pertaining to large animals. So far, LAPS members have secured potentially permanent homes for four of them. They're in 30-day trial periods at adoptive homes or about to start trial periods in new homes.
"They were in bad shape when they got here, but when they are restored to health, there's no reason you couldn't ride them," Mauger said. "They are useful animals that could be broken to work in a garden."
The Humane League received a tip about the ailing animals and sent humane police Officer Danielle Ball to investigate.
Megan Gallagher Clark of the Humane League said the owner signed over the animals to the shelter's care, but because they had no way to transport them from the farm, League employees had to travel to Holtwood for a week to care for them until transportation to foster homes could be arranged.
"That was a huge challenge for us," Clark said. "Their hooves were severely overgrown, which (makes it) really painful for them to walk. The owner was paying to house them and was supposed to come and feed them, but he wasn't. When he was confronted, he signed them over fairly quickly."
The specialized needs of large animals and the particular care of mammoth donkeys is unfamiliar territory for the Humane League, which specializes in sheltering small animals.After the League put out an e-mail notice for help with the animals, LAPS and Another Chance for Horses of Berks County offered advice, coordination of veterinary care, transportation and foster homes for the 10 horses and donkeys — which became 11 after one donkey gave birth.
The Humane League also contacted television news stations about the animals. Mauger said exposure has helped bring in potential adoptive homes for the animals, as well as help from people with expert knowledge of mammoth donkeys.
"We talked to a wonderful woman from Hanover who breeds mammoth donkeys," Mauger said. "Donkeys are a lot different than horses in how they respond to medications. They're much more self-protective than horses."
Although it might take up to a year or more for some of the donkeys' feet to fully recover, Mauger said, the animals' distinctive personalities are surfacing now that they're on the mend.
"I find them inordinately funny. They're very personable and love people," said Mauger, who's housing seven of them at her home. "They love to watch you work. I don't think they're into working, but they love to watch you clean up after them. They're very into the whole procedure and want to know what you're putting in the bucket."
Mauger said she's optimistic homes will be found for the animals remaining in foster care. She said ideal candidates understand the custody and care of large animals.
"I'm sure we will find homes for them," Mauger said. "We've had some very nice people call about them."
Clark said the League is not releasing the owner's name while Ball determines what charges should be filed against him.
(62) (31) (4) (3) (3) (2) (2) (2) (2) (2)"It seemed the owner overestimated his ability to take care of them," Clark said. "He didn't really have a plan for them, and it seemed like he was letting them breed and not paying attention to them."
For more information about adopting a donkey or horse from LAPS, call (610) 869-9880. To donate to the cost of their care, send checks to: LAPS, P.O. Box 243, West Grove, PA 19390.
E-mail: slindt@lnpnews.com
