Immediate Release
December 31, 2009
Batavia, Ohio. Toting a food bowl that was half the size of his body, the smallest member of the Younger family of Owensville was among the carloads full of local citizens who stopped by the Clermont County Animal Shelter today to donate food and items for the six malnourished horses, a donkey, and pony taken by the shelter this week in an alleged animal cruelty case. Aidan, Tristan, Kayla, and Lindsey Younger pooled their Christmas money to buy items for the animals; they have a rescued horse at home with one eye and arthritis. “We’re donating because we care about horses,” said the kids, almost in unison.
“Our horses are like children to us,” said Lois Weyant of Milford, watching her 16-year-old daughter Elizabeth and her 14-year-old friend, Summer Harris of Terrace Park, carry in donations. The girls were on their way to go horseback riding when they decided to help out the animals.
Rod and Sandy Schnatz from Milford delivered four bags of equine food. “We don’t have horses but can’t stand to see animals suffer,” said Sandy. Rose Sampson from Symmes Township is a horse owner who said she is waiting to see if her horse was among those that died at the Bethel farm; carcasses of at least 10 horses have been found. “I’m donating items to help the surviving horses,” she said. “I gave my retired horse to the family who owns that farm in Bethel; I trusted them to take care of the horse. This is difficult.”
“I appreciate the work the Clermont Animal Shelter does,” said Katie Gough of Bethel, while dropping off food for the horses. “No animal should be left in those conditions. I want to do all I can to help them get better.
“On behalf of the Clermont County Humane Society and the staff at the shelter, thank you so much for the donations,” said Clermont Humane Society President Molly Geisey. Donations are being accepted at the Clermont County Animal Shelter, located at 4025 Filager Road in Batavia, between the hours of 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Saturday. Donations after hours can be left at the building behind the shelter. The Clermont Animal Shelter will be closed on New Year’s Day, Friday, January 1, 2010. Items needed include bagged bedding, baled bedding, heated buckets, stall mats, flax seed oil, corn oil, and fat supplements.
An account has also been set-up to accept cash donations at Bethel Food and Supply, located at 528 W. Plane Street in Bethel.
#
For additional information about this or other county news, contact Clermont County Communications Director Kathryn Lehr at (513) 732-7597 or by e-mail, klehr@co.clermont.oh.us.