Agencies seek help with seized horses

The public and private agencies taking care of 47 horses seized from a Colleton County Bible camp earlier this month say the horses are getting plumper but their bank accounts are becoming slimmer.

Elizabeth Steed, founder of the Livestock Equine Awareness and Rescue Network, said the nonprofit organization has received donations from dozens of sources on top of its own out-of-pocket expenses, but that more can be done to help the 30 horses they're caring for. The group will accept feed, equipment, farrier services and pasture space.

"We're going through three bags of senior feed a day at $16.95 a bag," she said. "That's a lot of money. They'll be on that for the next 30 days."

Colleton County Animal and Environmental Control seized the horses May 5 after complaints that the horses were being neglected and abused.

Eddie Ackerman, the minister at Wholehearted Church, which owns the Gift Horse Bible Camp, acknowledged that some of the horses are sick but said there was no abuse or neglect.

The horses are being held until a hearing before a judge on May 28.

Tim Lynes, director of Colleton County animal control, said the agency typically relies on nonprofit groups such as the rescue network to help place seized horses. It is keeping 14 stallions that it could not place.

Lynes said it's trying to help the horses the best it can with the resources it has. The agency expects to spend a total of $18,000 for all of the horses after 30 days. "It just bottoms it out," he said of the department's budget. "It depletes it for the rest of the year."

At Steed's request, Lynes spent Monday shopping for a $700 carport to act as a shelter for two colts and six mares that were out in the cold and the rain because they had to be separated from the other 24 horses.

Rescue network officials say the organization is having to place more and more animals because of the faltering economy. Besides the 30 animals from this case, officials said they still are helping horses from cases dating back to 2007.

"I wouldn't say it's overwhelming," Steed said. "I would say it's eye- opening. The need for this type of service is becoming greater as the economy becomes worse."

Kay Hyman, director of public outreach for the Charleston County Humane Society, said her organization is holding three horses in its new barn and has the resources they need to care for them. While they have not been affected by the case as much as the rescue network, she said it goes to show how much care goes into keeping horses.

"It's a huge effort," she said.