Six emaciated horses pulled from a Wayne County property on Tuesday, May 5, are now in quarantine at Whispering Acres Farm Animal Sanctuary in Medina County, where staff says they are getting emergency, round-the-clock care. Deputies and the county dog warden intervened after a welfare check at the farm, determined the animals were not being properly cared for, and had the horses legally surrendered to the sanctuary as part of an ongoing animal welfare investigation.
How the rescue unfolded
Whispering Acres staff said they got a call from deputies in the afternoon, and volunteers headed out within hours. Sanctuary owner Janine Smalley told reporters the horses “walked right up” to rescuers and seemed almost relieved to see help arrive, according to WOIO. Some of the animals were described as little more than skin stretched over bone, and one horse, a fragile case named Whiskey, drew particular concern. Volunteers loaded the horses into trailers and hauled them to Whispering Acres that evening for immediate shelter and careful feeding.
What rescuers found
Investigators said the horses had no shelter and were surviving on cattle feed mixed with diatomaceous earth. Veterinary checks put their body condition scores at 1, the lowest rating on the scale, according to Cleveland.com. The Wayne County Sheriff’s Office identified the property as Mending Hearts Sanctuary, formerly known as Life’s Little Adventures Sanctuary, and reported that six equines were seized during the May 5 welfare check. Sheriff’s records note severe dental and hoof neglect that made both eating and basic movement painful.
Whispering Acres reports that the horses are now in quarantine on closely monitored refeeding plans while receiving veterinary examinations, dental work, and blood tests, and that the sanctuary has launched fundraising efforts to cover long-term care, according to WOIO. Staff says rehabilitation for horses this underweight can take months and must be done cautiously to avoid medical complications. Volunteers and local rescuers add that community donations and experienced foster homes will be crucial as the animals slowly regain strength.
The Wayne County Sheriff’s Office said the seizure grew out of an ongoing investigation and that the case will be reviewed next month to determine whether further action is warranted, according to Cleveland.com. For now, the horses remain under legal surrender at Whispering Acres while veterinarians evaluate whether they can eventually be adopted or will need permanent sanctuary placement. Local rescue groups say the situation underscores how difficult it can be to monitor small sanctuaries and how many resources it really takes to care for large animals in serious distress.
