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Ranch Owner in Jail and Need for Aid is Urgent FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
19 April 2009
 Alliance, Nebraska– At least 60 horses are
dead and more than 100 others are
seriously emaciated at a mustang
facility in Morrill County, Nebraska.
Habitat for Horses, an equine rescue
organization, received reports last week
of problems at the 3-Strikes Ranch. Jerry Finch of the equine rescue
organization Habitat for Horses just returned from flying over the property,
Sunday, and reports that “The situation is even worse than we suspected.”
They spotted another 20 animals on the range, several barely able
to stand. Another 50-60 emaciated horses are in holding pens with only
a small amount of muddy and trampled alfalfa. They are suffering
from a variety of ailments including severe worm infestation and
terribly neglected hooves. Two young foals, approximately four months old, were found dead. Necropsies have been performed on
both; a full report, including toxicology results is due back Friday.
3-Strikes Ranch, according to its web site, is a "Mustang outpost…
a Non-Profit habitat to hundreds of mustangs from all over
the United States… natural environment for wild to run on the
open prairies of the Sand Hills." Mustangs captured by the US Bureau of Land Management (BLM) that were not adopted after three attempts -- three strikers -- were sent to Jason Meduna
at 3-Strikes Ranch. Meduna also accepted horses from people
unable to care for their mustangs, and those in need of special
training. A number of private owners who had placed horses with
Meduna have already retrieved their animals. The BLM was at the
facility last week and removed one of the three horses for which
they currently hold title. The other was reported to be dead.
According to ranch owner Meduna more than 300 animals were
at the ranch in January. He has attributed the deaths to toxic
poisoning, but to date no proof of this has been provided. Meduna is currently in jail on an animal cruelty charge stemming from the horse already removed by the BLM.
Habitat for Horses is assisting local law enforcement, the
Bureau of Land Management, and a number of volunteers in caring for these animals.
Hay and feed-based wormer are urgently needed. Local families
are urged to contact Finch if they are able to provide tactical
support for this operation. Donations for hay are being collected by Front Range Equine Rescue in Colorado.
donatebuy@frontrangeequinerescue.org
If you do not have access to Paypal you can mail donations to: Front Range Equine Rescue, P.O. Box 307, Larkspur, CO 80118.
Please notate on your check and/or Paypal donations that it is
for "3-Strikes Mustangs". Any and all help with hay is greatly appreciated.
Habitat for Horses (HfH) is a not-for-profit equine protection agency committed to the prevention, rescue and rehabilitation
of neglected, abused and homeless horses. The largest organization of its kind in North America, HfH operates a rehabilitation ranch in Hitchcock, Texas, as well as a growing network of foster homes t hroughout Texas, Oklahoma, Florida and Louisiana.
The organization has taken a leadership role in horse protection
issues and has been instrumental in developing and promoting
legislation to eliminate the slaughter of American horses. To learn more, visit www.habitatforhorses.org
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