We are literally heartbroken to tell you that early Saturday morning, we lost our dear Amelia. She had a bad bout of colic that started midday on Friday, and nothing that was done for her could relieve the discomfort and pain she was feeling. Every effort was made, but in the end, we had to make the difficult decision to do what was best for her and let her go.
This has been deeply painful to everyone here at SAFE for many reasons. We spent nearly three years with Amelia. We watched her transform from a starved and sick mare into the sassy, happy girl she was meant to be. We battled many health issues with Amelia, including allergies and her ongoing struggle with gastrointestinal inflammation which caused her to colic on several occasions. We worked hard to find the right way to feed her to keep her stable. And we even found her an adopter who loved her and couldn’t wait to bring her home. But it was not to be.
SAFE’s mission is to rescue horses that have faced neglect or abuse. But horses like Amelia make us wish that there was a way to prevent neglect from happening in the first place. Because even after making what seems like a full recovery from starvation and malnutrition, horses like Amelia are never completely whole again. Their digestive systems remain more susceptible to food sensitivity, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and colic. For Amelia, we tried everything we could think of as far as feeding to keep her from colic. She couldn’t properly digest any type of hay without colicing and she couldn’t graze on grass without colicing. Right there, two of a horse’s greatest pleasures in life are gone. To keep her comfortable, we had to feed her small servings of pelleted senior feed round the clock. Thanks to iFeed, we were able to deliver her tiny meals 24 hours a day, even outside in her paddock. That solution worked for Amelia…until it didn’t.
Before SAFE, Amelia belonged to an individual who has since been charged with felony Animal Cruelty. Amelia’s case has been pending in Snohomish County for more than two years. The defendant has been able to postpone the hearing over and over again, and there is no way of knowing when she will ever face a judge. If she’s found guilty, she will not be allowed to own horses again for a period of time. But no hearing means no verdict, and meanwhile, innocent animals suffer. It’s an extremely disheartening situation.
Amelia is free from pain, and she will never again suffer from colic. We will miss seeing her bright yellow coat shining in the sun. Amelia was extremely well-loved at SAFE and her death has left a hole in many of our hearts. Rest in peace, dear friend. We’ll never forget you!
