Massachusetts sees record number of surrendered horses

Methuen, Mass.

-- Staff and volunteers at the Massachusetts SPCA’s Nevins Farm have seen a record number of horses surrendered to the facility this year.

So far, 35 horses have been relinquished, with 13 or more expected in the next few weeks. These new horses join others still in rehabilitation and looking for homes.

The increase is a continuing trend, with 21 surrendered horses in 2007, and 39 in 2008.

It’s the economy that’s to blame, according to Melissa Ghareeb, manager of the Nevins Farm Equine & Farm Animal Adoption Center.

“Nevins Farm is the region’s only open-admissions animal care and adoption center for farm animals and horses, [so] we’re experiencing a tremendous increase,” she says.

Ghareeb expects surrenders to increase even more in the fall and winter, when hay prices rise and grazing is no longer an option for financially struggling horse owners.

Ghareeb hopes in the coming weeks more adopters and donors will come forward to offer the horses homes and money for medical care and feed.

For information on Nevins Farm’s adoption process or to view available horses, visit www.mspca.org, or call (978) 687-7453, ext. 6113. Donations may be made on the Web site.