TheBakersfieldCalifornian.com

When a horse was found last week in an almond orchard, tied to a tree and left to die, officials at Kern County Animal Control decided something needed to be done to stem what they say is a rising tide of neglect, abuse and abandonment of large animals.

Their first step was to ask for help from the public at a town hall meeting held Thursday night at the Kern County Department of Public Health.

The goal: To create a foster care program for homeless horses.

"You're here because you care," Animal Control Division Manager Kimberly Mullins told the two dozen or so who came to ask questions and offer ideas and solutions.

Some people with property may have space for for a horse, Mullins suggested. Others may be able to offer money or animal feed, such as hay. And still others may be willing to volunteer their time or expertise.

Christian Comeau, a veterinarian at Bakersfield Veterinary Hospital, said many of the horses that come to the county animal shelter are in poor condition.

They are often underweight, with problems with their coats, teeth and hooves. Parasites are also common.

And they are often frightened.

Anne Quinn, vice president of Friends of the Kern County Animal Shelter Foundation, told the small crowd that the foundation is equipped to take in donations and distribute funds where they're needed most.

Volunteering to foster an equine doesn't mean all the expenses fall on your shoulders. Horses will first receive a health assessment. They will be fully vaccinated and treated for parasites and other medical conditions.

But unless a horse proves to be too much to handle, organizers hope foster families will be willing to make a lifetime commitment.

"The shelter isn't prepared to pay for them for the rest of their lives," Quinn said.

The price of hay has more than doubled since last year, and rising fuel costs and other economic pressures have placed some horse owners in a difficult situation, organizers said.

In addition, euthanizing and disposing of a horse can cost $400 to $500. And laws against slaughtering horses in California have closed off that option.

Tracy Totton-Martin, owner of Bit-O-Heaven Horse Rescue Ranch, told organizers her 20-acre ranch between Bakersfield and Taft is uniquely qualified to offer a "forever home" to abandoned and neglected horses.

"We have the ability to take as many horses as you can bring, but we just don't have the funds," she said.

"We want to help -- and we will," she said. "But we can't do it alone."

Property owner Neil Bennett asked about liability. If a foster animal causes an injury or worse, is the property owner on the hook?

Yes, organizers said. Property owners assume the risk.

"There is risk involved in this -- absolutely," Mullins said. "There is risk in everything we do."

Animal control is now accepting applications from foster families and other volunteers.

For more information call 321-3000.