Neglected Horse Too Weak to Stand Rescued

Murrell Foundation, Humane Society offering $2,500 reward for info leading to arrest, conviction

The Humane Society of North Texas and the Murrell Foundation are offering a $2,500 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction for the person who neglected a horse named Stella.

Stella, a name given to her by rescuers, was found wandering on a dark, rural road west of Fort Worth. A good Samaritan called authorities who turned the 12-year-old bay mare over the Humane Society of North Texas for help.

“She’s covered in ant bites, the ants also really attacked her near her eyes so she’s on medication eye drops for that inflammation, she has sores on her legs from the falls, she is extremely, extremely emaciated,” said Whitney Hanson with the Humane Society of North Texas.

Stella was too weak to stand. It took 11 people to lift the horse to her feet for transport from local law enforcement to the HSNT facility. After she was transported, a local Kubota dealer in Decatur helped create a temporary make-shift sling to help Stella stand until the group was able to find another one.

“She is still in the sling now and will have to be in the sling for another week, possibly longer, to be able to stay on her feet,” said Hanson.

Stella is regaining some of her strength; video posted to Facebook shows her taking a short walk following a bath Wednesday.

“It’s horrifying to see a case like this, and with a horse we know that that’s not something that happens overnight – it takes months for a horse to get in that shape,” Hanson said, “so to know that she’s been neglected and overlooked for such a long period of time and suffering for such a long period of time, it’s just heartbreaking.”

Stella is on a strict feeding program, and getting anti-inflammatories, steroids, antibiotics and other medications.

“She is such a fighter, and our vets say they’re cautiously optimistic, her blood work is looking promising but at this point it’s up to her body whether or not we can support her medication, food and the sling, but it’s up to her body whether or not she’ll be able to pull through,” Hanson said. “But we all have our fingers crossed – she’s a really amazing horse.”

Investigators don’t know who owned Stella or how she came to be such a horrific condition, but they want to find out.

The Murrell Foundation and Humane Society of North Texas is offering a $2,500 reward for information that leads to an arrest and conviction in the case.

If you have information on Stella’s history contact the HSNT Humane Investigations Team at investigations@hsnt.org or 817-332-4768x113. Donations towards the care of Stella and other animals in need are accepted at www.hsnt.org.

NBC 5's Katy Blakey contributed to this report.

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