Horses admitted

MEDIA ALERT
For immediate release

Contact: Brian Graves, College of Veterinary Medicine, 612-624-6228 or grave237@umn.edu

Emaciated horses admitted to University of Minnesota Veterinary Medical Center

MINNEAPOLIS/ST. PAUL (August 31, 2011) - Two extremely thin horses arrived at the University of Minnesota Veterinary Medical Center on August 29. Equine veterinary specialists are now evaluating the horses—the most critically underweight of the approximately 60 horses housed on an East Bethel farm—to determine whether neglect caused their emaciated state. The evaluations are being used to assist Humane Society investigators as they investigate the horse ranch.

On Monday, August 29, Humane Society officials using the Henneke 1-9 equine scale determined that 10 of the farm’s horses had a body mass score that puts them in the underweight category. The two horses removed from the farm scored 2 on the scale; the Veterinary Medical Center anticipates the possible arrival of more emaciated horses.

The Veterinary Medical Center’s Large Animal Hospital will open its doors to the media tomorrow, September 1, from 1 -2 p.m. for photos, filming, and to talk with the equine specialists who are evaluating and caring for the horses. Keith Streff, senior humane agent of the Animal Humane Society based in Golden Valley, will be available to answer all Humane Society-related questions and any questions about the investigation.

Directions: The Large Animal Hospital is part of the Veterinary Medical Center located at 1365 Gortner Avenue on the St. Paul Campus of the University of Minnesota. For directions, visit www.cvm.umn.edu/vmclarge/aboutlah/lahdirections/home.html.

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The Veterinary Medical Center (VMC) has served the community for more than a century. It is the most advanced, full-service referral care center for large and small animals in Minnesota. The VMC sees more than 35,000 cases annually, with specialists available in all areas of medicine and surgery. More than 50 of the veterinarians on staff have undergone several years of additional training to become board-certified specialists in a particular area of veterinary medicine.

The College of Veterinary Medicine improves the health and well-being of animals and people by providing high-quality veterinary training, conducting leading-edge research, and delivering innovative veterinary services.