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The location of his body was less than
75 feet from the road
and inside a pasture that was fenced properly with
5 strands of wire. The pasture was well kept and
could be viewed from the windows of the farm.
The horses had a great barn for shelter.
My point of telling you the location: I want
everyone to understand this did not happen
far off into the woods or where no one
lives. This is a farm. A home.
Cougars had been seen in this area. Reports
were made of the sightings. There was never
an investigation of the reports.
This horse was found
by his owner of 14 years. She owned him since
he was a colt. I cannot imagine the heartbreak
and the terror she felt. The other horses had
claw marks on them and needed to be
treated for shock.
DEC was contacted because it was obvious this was
a wild animal attack. A biologist came to the scene,
took digital pictures (that you are looking at),
and 35mm pictures the DEC now says are lost. And a
video. An officer was never sent nor did Ward
Stone come to view this horse. Instead, Buddy
was buried, because the owners felt this was
the "right thing to do for him."
DEC concluded that Buddy died of an illness, natural
causes, or attacked by coyotes, died and then was
fed on by coyotes. We do not believe this to be true.
Living in this area, we are all aware of the
coyotes. We see them. They are not attacking our
horses, and if they did try, there would be bites to the
legs of the horses. Canines bite legs. There were
no bites on the legs. In this herd of horses, if
coyotes were chasing them with intent of killing
them, you would have found some kicked and stomped
coyotes. They were four very strong, healthy,
moxie horses. There was evidence of a chase. There
were 2 shoes missing from Buddy, from trying to run.
The grounds were torn up from the panic they were in.
And no, he did not run into the tree and break his
neck. He did what any horse would do from instinct. He
went to the trees to try to get the animal off his
back or neck. This is where his life ended but not
without a huge fight and struggle from him and his
pasture mates.
Look at the bite marks on the neck, look at the surgical
wounds. This is not the least bit typical of
coyotes. If you are a woodsman you have seen what
coyotes do with something such as a deer carcass. It's
a rip and tear mess. We are not scientists, but there
was evidence here. Although the owners were suffering
great grief, they should have been advised by the
experts not to bury Buddy until they were certain what
"animal caused his death."
In the name of Buddy
this is why I do this work.
Amen.
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