Laurel rescue takes in 30-plus animals in seizure case of horses, donkeys, goats, more

Eleven miniature horses, six donkeys, eight goats, seven sheep and a chicken are being cared for by a horse rescue in Laurel, Delaware, after being seized from a farm.

"We wanted to be there for these horses and be their soft landing spot," said Meg Searcey, Changing Fates Equine Rescue vice president. "So we said we'd figure it out and make it happen and that's what we did."

Five more miniature horses from the same Felton-area farm went to another rescue, according to Searcey. 

Many of the horses had matted manes and poor grooming, according to a Changing Fates Facebook post, and ownership of the animals was relinquished to the rescues June 28.

Neither the Delaware Office of Animal Welfare nor the Department of Agriculture would provide further information, citing an ongoing investigation, but Searcey said the animals' conditions indicated their needs were not being met.

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The animals Changing Fates took in have been seen by a veterinarian and vaccinated, but farrier work is ongoing.

"It's not an easy thing to give farrier care to a horse that’s never had it done," Searcey said.

The Felton animals are the largest group Changing Fates' has ever taken in at once, Searcey said. Two of the donkeys and three of the goats are believed to be pregnant.

Originally expecting to take in three or four intact male horses and donkey, Changing Fates wound up with 11. 

"It's a big undertaking because they don't typically get along with each other ... and have to be housed separately," Searcey said. "But our biggest concern is the gelding fees. It'll wind up being $5,000 or more."

The rescue does not adopt out intact males to prevent breeding.

Shannon Marvel McNaught covers Sussex County and beyond. Reach her at smcnaught@gannett.com.