Dear Editor,
On February 5, I received a call from animal lover, Shalinii Singh (at 4.50 pm), telling me of an injured horse standing in the median on the Rupert Craig Highway (near Bel Air village). She said it was in that position on her way to work around 7.30 that morning and it was still standing there at 4.45 pm in the afternoon. Shortly thereafter I received another call from an expat residing in Guyana reporting an injured horse at the same site. I called GLDA and they gave me a number for one of their vets.
Armed with cement slings, and having more than a little fear of horses, I went in search of two cart-owners I knew on Duncan Street; they readily agreed to assist me. When we arrived at the scene, the cartmen recognized the horse and identified its owner. The rear left leg appeared broken so we went to the owner’s home but he was not there. I left my number with a neighbour and within 15 minutes the owner called. It was getting dark and we rushed to pick him up. The owner already knew his horse was seriously injured and he and his wife had sought help three days before but had given up in frustration.
I called the GLDA vet and explained the problem, emphasizing the need to deal with the situation immediately since the horse was suffering and his position on the highway created a serious traffic hazard should he fall into the traffic lane which could have resulted in the loss of lives. The vet immediately took charge, he asked the owner to come to where he was. The owner explained that his horse had been on a tether feeding but when he went to get him all he found was the end of a cut rope. He went on to say that someone told him his horse was on the highway with a broken leg. The GLDA vet then had the owner sign a euthanasia release form and we all went back to take care of the horse.
It was dark by the time we got there and the rains poured and the wind blew. The owner’s magnificent and patient stallion, still in his prime, stood on three legs in the median as the vet examined his broken leg and cars, trucks and minibuses sped by unknowingly spraying everyone with water. The owner, his family, the two young cartmen and I hung together soaked and shivering in the elements, with his wife in tears, knowing the only solution was going to be euthanasia. Meanwhile another GLDA vet arrived and the two vets, dripping wet, put the suffering animal to sleep by an injection in the vein. I informed animal lover, Shalini Singh, who called MCC Solid Waste and asked them to pick up the body the following morning.
Editor, this is just one more case of animals being hurt or killed on the roadways but it demonstrates the importance of teamwork and effective communication and coordination amongst agencies responsible: two independent persons reported the injured horse; the two cart-men knew the owner of the horse and were able to locate him; the owner and his family proved to be very responsible in dealing with the situation, and the relevant authorities (GLDA and the city council) responded efficiently. Thanks are due to all those who got involved and minimized the suffering of this horse and perhaps prevented a vehicular accident. Most problems can be resolved with good teamwork.
Yours faithfully,
Syeada Manbodh
