Dramatic Rescue Effort Underway in Animal Cruelty Case Involving Seven Horses, Mules, and a Mini-Horse

MOSCOW, Tenn., July 16, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- American Humane Association's renowned Red Star® Rescue team, accompanied by one of their 50-foot Lois Pope Red Star Rescue Vehicles, an F-350 truck, and a horse trailer, has deployed to Tennessee at the request of the Fayette County District Attorney's Office to participate in a dramatic raid in Moscow this week aimed at saving, rehabilitating, and caring for ten starving and severely dehydrated animals, including seven horses, two mules, and one mini-horse.  The animals, which are barely clinging to life, are on IV fluids and one was so starved it may need a blood transfusion.

The animals are being removed and taken to a temporary emergency animal shelter facility where they will be given food, medical treatment, and intensive 24 hour care until they are out of danger. They will then be transported to a facility in Tennessee for long-term sheltering and rehabilitation. The Red Star program's presenting sponsor is Mars Petcare US, makers of PEDIGREE® Food for Dogs. The giant rescue vehicle on the scene was sponsored by philanthropist Lois Pope and Banfield Pet Hospital®.

"It is a heartbreaking sight," said Josh Cary, a longtime member of the Red Star Rescue team. "The animals are in terrible condition and we are doing whatever we can to provide comfort, care and veterinary assistance to these poor creatures now and during their rehabilitation."

This is not the first time that American Humane Association's Red Star team has deployed to assist in a cruelty case in Fayette County.  Last year, eighteen horses and a mule were saved after nearly starving to death. Two years ago, 141 dogs were rescued in deplorable condition from the back of a U-Haul trailer in which they were being transported near Memphis. American Humane Association helped care for the animals and arranged for a special airlift of those who were not adopted locally to a safe shelter to find forever homes. Red Star was also involved in a hoarding case in Moscow, Tennessee, rescuing and helping to care for more than 140 animals who were being kept in a private home.

American Humane Association's Red Star program was created in 1916 at the request of the U.S. Secretary of War specifically to rescue war horses on the battlefields of World War I Europe.  Since then, Red Star has been rescuing animals of every kind and has been involved in virtually every major disaster relief effort from Pearl Harbor to 9/11, Hurricane Katrina, the Joplin, Missouri and Moore, Oklahoma tornadoes, the Japanese and Haitian earthquakes, and Superstorm Sandy.  Over just the past ten years Red Star teams have saved, helped and sheltered more than 80,000 animals.

To follow the news and support the Red Star team's emergency work, please visit www.americanhumane.org.

About American Humane Association
American Humane Association is the country's first national humane organization and the only one dedicated to protecting both children and animals. Since 1877, American Humane Association has been at the forefront of virtually every major advance in protecting our most vulnerable from cruelty, abuse and neglect. Today we're also leading the way in understanding the human-animal bond and its role in therapy, medicine and society. American Humane Association reaches millions of people every day through groundbreaking research, education, training and services that span a wide network of organizations, agencies and businesses. You can help make a difference, too. Visit American Humane Association at www.americanhumane.org today.

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20101108/DC97343LOGO

SOURCE American Humane Association

Related Links

http://www.americanhumane.org