Maybe this is another one of those things we all need to just shake our heads at. If I am reading this correctly, and I believe I am, Mary O'Brien is getting off pretty lightly. Even though being ordered to pay restitution, and being encouraged to do so, there is no legal standing to force her to? Let's all have a show of hands from those who feel that this woman is going to do the right thing. Yeah, I thought so. In five years, she can start over again. In case anyone is paying attention THIS is one of the things seriously wrong in the equine world today. These rescues make me ill, and the people who enable them should really start taking a good look at who they are supporting. I know many feel a horrible rescue is always better than slaughter. They haven't learned that to a horse, a slow death by starvation would not be the choice the horse would make if they could speak for themselves. Mary O'Brien no doubt will move on and do nothing to pay off this money to all of those who stepped in and cleaned up her mess. And the restitution represents only part of the amount. A very wise rescue chose not to even ask for Mary to pay them back. I suppose they feel dedicating themselves to working for the good of the horses is time better spent than asking someone like Mary to pay them back for animals she obviously could not care for properly when she owned them. Fortunately, we DO have some bona fide rescues around to clean up after the ones like Mary O'Brien's.
By R.H 2
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