WSU Team Aids in Care of 66 Neglected Horses for Adoption

On August 27th, Dr. Ali Botting, an equine veterinarian at WSU, led veterinary students to Lewiston, Idaho, where they spent nearly ten hours in challenging summer heat administering vaccinations, deworming treatments, microchipping, testing, and conducting health assessments. At the time, the horses were under the care of Horse & Halo and the Idaho Animal Rescue Network.

"I'm proud of how our students and interns handled a long, hot day of work," Botting said. He emphasized that this experience allows students to serve the community while gaining insights into aspects of veterinary medicine not typically encountered in classrooms or hospitals.

The horses were seized on June 5 and initially placed in temporary care at the Lewiston Livestock Market. Jenna Redheart, founder and director of the Idaho Animal Rescue Network, noted that most of the horses arrived underweight and had suffered from inadequate nutrition and care. "This year has been a challenging year for our rescue, especially for the equine aspect. Our equine cases have almost tripled. Without WSU stepping in to help, we wouldn't have been able to get these horses ready for adoption. It would have been impossible without them," Redheart stated.

The horses continued to receive medical treatment and weight gain support throughout the summer. Nearly all of the horses were adopted following the WSU team's intervention. Botting expressed appreciation for the Idaho Animal Rescue Network's work and highlighted the valuable collaboration between the two organizations.

For veterinary students like Bertie Lau, this opportunity allowed them to apply their training practically. "These partnerships are important because of the community they build," said Lau. "Veterinarians and animal rescuers do different things, but we ultimately want what's best for every animal. It felt good to come together and make a difference."

Erin Levine, another fourth-year student, mentioned that such experiences are crucial for their education. "Working alongside faculty veterinarians in a setting like this allows us to learn while providing meaningful service," Levine stated. "We all went home with new horse-handling skills and a better understanding of what it takes to care for animals in a situation like this."

Redheart acknowledged the various community partners involved, highlighting WSU's commitment beyond its campus. "People should know WSU doesn't just sit on campus waiting for patients to come through the door. They're out in the community helping when animals need them most," she remarked.

The rescue operation was supported by various organizations and individuals, including WSU alumna Dr. Liv Brockhaus, an emergency veterinarian at Viking Veterinary Hospital in Moscow, Idaho, who treated horses with abscesses and other conditions, and Mandy Stuhan from Horse and Halo, who helped coordinate the adoptions.