Tiffany Revelle — Record-Bee staff
Thanks to one Kelseyville woman”s heart for horses, one very lucky steed has a new lease on life.
Named Soda Bay, the approximately 20-year-old bay Appaloosa gelding was starving and could barely walk because of abscesses on his hooves when he was first surrendered to Lake County Animal Care and Control on May 24.
According to Director Denise Johnson, the owner handed over Soda Bay hoping Animal Care and Control could help find him a home. Photos show bones protruding sharply and matted hair.
A veterinarian was brought in to evaluate Soda Bay to see of there was a medical reason for how thin he was or if this was a case of animal neglect. “The evaluation findings were not good,” writes Johnson in a press release following an examination by Dr. Susan Cannon from Wasson Memorial Veterinary Clinic.
Bloodwork showed no internal problems, says the release, but the horse was clearly malnourished. “It is not known at this time whether the owner neglected him, however, the Animal Care and Control department is investigating the situation,” writes Johnson.
Soda Bay”s options were few: costly rehabilitation or euthanasia. Johnson said donations of feed to help with the cost of his care came in to Animal Care and Control, and staff asked Cannon and the District Attorney”s office for help making the best decision for the horse.
Then Soda Bay got his second chance exactly one week after he was surrendered. While making a delivery of hay to the Animal Care and Control facility Valarie Sullivan of Pikes Peak Appaloosas in Kelseyville asked about him.
“After a long, sleepless night,” states Johnson”s release, Sullivan called Johnson asking to foster the horse and offering to pay for his care and follow the vet”s orders for his rehabilitation.
Soda Bay was moved to Sullivan”s property in Kelseyville June 4, where he began a long road to recovery in the company of other horses Sullivan has rescued.
“I”ve never seen one this bad,” she said.
Sullivan said he”s walking now, which he couldn”t do when he first came because his hooves were in such bad shape. Although he mostly stood and enjoyed the sunshine, he could be seen swishing his tail, something Sullivan said he didn”t do when he first arrived.
“The other day I let him out and he gave a half-hearted little happy horse jig,” said Sullivan. She said she”s seen measurable improvements in Soda Bay”s attentiveness, energy, general health, and even a shinier coat.
It was never Sullivan”s intention to keep him for good, and she”s trying to find Soda Bay a permanent owner. She expects him to fill out in about a year, and estimated his total rehabilitation cost over that time at $6,000.
“We”re in dire need of help,” said Sullivan. She welcomes anyone who would like to help walk Soda Bay, feed and groom him, or just stroke fur and show him love. Anyone wishing to stop by need only call first, said Sullivan, at (719) 661-0306 or 279-9933.
Those interested in making a donation to help with Soda Bay”s rehabilitation costs may contact Dave”s Hay Barn in Upper Lake at 275-2946 to contribute to an account set up for that purpose.
Sullivan is also conducting a raffle to help defray the cost of Soda Bay”s care for two UFC tickets that are “premium floor seats, second only to ringside seats” coming up on July 7. The raffle will take place Friday, June 29. For more information, contact Sullivan at the numbers above.
Johnson said Animal Care and Control will be monitoring Soda Bay”s rehabilitation weekly. Updates of his progress will be posted on the Animal Care and Control Web site at www.co.lake.ca.us.
Contact Tiffany Revelle at trevelle@record-bee.com.
