Dear Editor,
I’ve read in your newspaper and seen news broadcasts regarding the suffering of humans and animals caused by the recent floods, especially on the East Coast. It brings back many sad memories of the tremendous flood of 2005 and the suffering so many animals went through. My heart goes out to all those persons who have lost livestock and pets and do not have any dry and safe areas to keep them. I get stressed when it takes five hours for my yard to drain and cannot imagine what it is like to live in water for weeks and months at a time. But I do know that if we are vigilant during this rainy season we can save many animals from unnecessary suffering.
On December 18, I was driving along Vlissengen Road turning right into Brickdam, when I saw (close to the arch) 5 horses tied up in the empty field. On looking closer I saw a female horse and her foal tangled around a tree and post. The water was only about 8 inches deep but it was very muddy. The foal could not get out because it was trapped in the tangled circle. I quickly returned home, got my long boots, some gloves and a sharp pair of scissors. I waded into the muddy water, untangled the sling and set the horse and her baby free. Then I retied them to a safe and dry location in the field. As I looked down the flooded field I saw another horse close to the road; its head had somehow gotten entangled with the wire used to hold the electric post to the ground. The horse’s sling was wrapped around the wire so that his head was only a couple inches above the water; he was ankle deep in mud and could not move. Using my sharp scissors, I cut the sling and moved him from his nightmare to a drier part of the field. He seemed thankful for being moved and never showed resistance or tried to bite me. Attempts to find the owners proved unsuccessful.
The point of this letter is to bring awareness to all your compassionate readers. If you see animals tied in flooded fields, take a closer look, they might be suffering, in danger and in need of your assistance. Five minutes of your time may save them from suffering cramps, foot rot and even drowning. Animals have feelings and suffer pain just like humans. If you think there is a danger of loose electric wires, disease infected waters or from animal attacks than do the next best thing: seek assistance from a horse cart driver, a vet, the fire department or call the GSPCA and ask for help.
“Animals cannot speak, but you and I can speak for them and represent them. Let us all feel their silent cry of agony and let us all make that cry heard around the world.”- Rukmini DeviArundale.
Yours faithfully,
Syeada Manbodh
