We have been hot on the trail of Mike the horse for quite some time. Mike’s negligent guardian moved him three different times to hide him from our Justice for Animals Senior Campaigner, Doll Stanley. Watch this video to see how we deal with equine neglect and mistreatment in the Deep South.

We finally found Mike on another person’s property, who had no idea that a horse had been hidden there. They promptly gave permission to Doll, Tallahatchie County Deputies Jazmine Bradford and Jimmy Christian, and Stephanie Billingsley of Mississippi Horses, to enter their property for an animal rescue mission.

Mike was tethered to one spot, far away and out of reach from the water source. There were numerous piles of feces on the ground where he stood helplessly. He was nervous, but he let us lead him away to the trailer to move him to Mississippi Horses where he is finally getting the proper care and love he so desperately needs.

But our work doesn’t end with rescue. As part of our Justice for Animals campaign, Doll Stanley went to court to advocate for justice for Mike. We were thrilled with Judge Lance Tennyson’s ruling. He awarded custody of Mike to In Defense of Animals and handed the negligent guardian the maximum sentence, court costs, and reimbursement to our partner in Mike’s rescue, Mississippi Horses. In Defense of Animals will cover Mike’s veterinary costs and Mississippi Horses will provide him with the care and training that will afford him a new life with a new guardian.

For more on how to protect animals from cruelty, visit our Justice for Animals campaign and please consider making a donation.