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No doubt, people have suffered mightily during the economic downturn of the last few years.
But this week brought another example of how horses can be
the
most vulnerable victims when their owners fail them. Thankfully, we also saw how the greater horse community can work together to save horses from perilous scenarios.
Rudy Lozano, 32, was arrested Saturday and taken by Androscoggin County sheriff deputies from 90 Shiloh Road in Durham, Maine. According to those familiar with the situation, he was simultaneously evicted from the property where for the last several months he had established an unregistered equine rescue of sorts.
Many members of the horse community came to the immediate assistance of property owners Laurie and Keith Koehler. Laurie Koehler for years ran the successful Monarch Farm at the same address.
It would've been one thing if Lozano had left behind an old TV. But the property he abandoned was 11 horses. He left them thin, dehydrated and with next to no hay, bedding, or grain, according to many individual visitors to the farm.
The horses were assessed by a vet this week and ranged between 1.5 and 3.5 on Henneke body condition scoring system (which ranges from 1 to 9). Many witnesses attested to the same horses being in finer health late last year.
By Thursday (April 21, 2011), Lozano had formally surrendered the horses to the state. The horses are being cared for by the Koehlers, who are under no legal obligation to look after them.
Many in the horse community, including Lisa Bosse of Riverview Farm, Janet Tuttle of Rockin’ T Equine Rescue, and Jim and Jan Marconi of Triple J Farm, the Maine State Society for the Protection of Animals, and others, have provided some temporary help.
The situation may provide the fledgling Maine Equine Welfare Alliance an opportunity to assist in the form of hay, feed, and re-homing.
For more information on MEWA,
click here.
To contact the Animal Welfare program, charged with the horses' present and future welfare,
click here
Let's hope they don't end up in the Slaughter Stream or at another pseudo rescue like Fair Play Farm!
Thank you, Maddy. Now we can begin to help.
hey rudy, if you've got nothing to hide then tell us YOUR side of the story, i'm sure we'd loveeeee to hear it. why didn't you ask for help? there are enough rescues in this state that could have put the word out and help would have come.
This site is nothing but drama, and no it's not the only one of it's kind. As humans, we are inclined to drama and gossip seems to be like crack for many, especially in the horse world.
This article was written with complete ignorance. Instead trying to fix the problem at hand, it takes fun in attacking those involved. I've seen better writing from 16 year old girls fighting over boys on Facebook.
Thank you to all who have stepped up. And please remember to donate when you can to any rescue.
Dear Anonymous,
No drama , Just explain the photos and Henneke scoring.
Janet
I was just at the barn today to pick up a horse that Rudy and Gina said they wanted as a trail horse bla bla bla... She went there fat an happy. She is now thin and depressed. There are 4 horses there that might not make it because of starvation and dehydration. There is no excuse. These horses could have been surrenedered before this. It is tortureous and cruel. Thankfully they are being well cared for and loved now. Hopefully they will be placed in loving homes. Luckily the mare we picked up today is going back to her former owner and will never ever have to live through another nighmare like she endured with the Lozano's over the last year ever again.
Bless the beasts and the children
For in this world they have no voice,
They have no choice.
Bless the beasts and the children,
For the world can never be
The world they see.
Light their way
When the darkness surrounds them.
Give them love,
Let it shine all around them.
Bless the beasts and the children.
Give them shelter from a storm.
Keep them safe.
I know it is gruesome but is there any way to see the faces of these horses?? I have been looking for a horse I used to have and was wondering if he might be one of these. I really would like him back.
Like a house of cards it all falls. Seems like Lozano has left behind a long line of hurt horses and people. I hope a lesson has been learned and the horses are in better hands.
This lets us all know whats going on and helps us know help is needed for the poor horses.. This crap keeps up and they well have a section at jail houses just for animal abusers.. All these peopel are getting nothing more then slaps on the hands from the courts ,, and its why more and more people are doing it ,, they have nothing to fear from the LAW !!!
Hey Anonymous, why don't you continue to focus your so articulate, intelligent assessments on the 16 year old girls on Facebook? I'm surprised you took time from your obession with 16 year old dramas to grace this site with your insightful critiques. What speaks truth are witnesses and photos showing emaciated horses left in deplorable conditions and reports by PROFESSIONALS rating these poor souls on a scale of 1.5 to 3.5. I suppose this is all superfluous fluff put out to rile you "real horse folk". Word has been put out there that help is available in these situations and again some man's ego was more important than the well being of those horses. Sounds a bit like Genthner and Fair Play all over again. Do we see a repeating theme? Keep up the good work Maddy and gang on the articles! I'm tired of excuses for humans committing atrocities and for the idiots making excuses for the guilty. Excuses are lies wrapped in a reason. Rudy obviously can't compose a reasonable response because he knows he hasn't got one. So Anonymous, put some TRUE facts out there to contradict what's been reported on Lozano for us instead of accusing someone of creating "drama" on a website. What have YOU done to correct the situation? It's seems other members here have stepped up to the plate to help and I don't mean a dinner plate containing con carne di cavallo.
I'm gonna have to say, this is the same guy that bilked my sister out of money serving as a contractor. Bad enough he stole from a young family with a baby and now I read this. Hope you Mainers bring some street justice down on him.
Rudy Lozano is a bad person to both humans and to animals. He is a liar who is currently facing numerous fraud charges, was fired from his job, and he harrasses people until he gets his way. Please spread the word about this person and don't let him hurt anyone else.
Wow, way to go Rudy and Gina. You screwed me.... You did the same to a friend of mine. That's pretty bad. But to read all the other blogs on how you screwed over a number of other people, not to mention all the others who haven't come across this story, is deplorable. ... But what you've done to these defenseless creatures who unconditionally put their faith in you is something that is unconscionable. For me, I have the ability to move on with my life; these horses don't have that same chance. How could you do such a thing? All I can say is that kismet is a bitch and eventually it will catch up with you. For your sake, hopefully you didn't drop your soap in the shower in jail Rudy...