Forsaken, Sick
The rescuers took the horse to their veterinary center in Jhigatola.
With multiple wounds, the horse had been abandoned at Hatirjheel area four to five days ago.
Its left hind leg was swollen from the joint behind its knee to pastern a part of its hoof.
Constrained by a rope, the wounded animal could not forage freely.
With no access to food, the five-year old horse was counting its last days on earth.
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Failing to find the horse’s owner, they guessed it might have been used for pulling carts, and later abandoned when the animal became ill to avoid veterinary expenses.
Some animal sympathizers of Madhubag — adjacent to Hatirjheel Lake — applied turmeric powder and antiseptic medicine available in the local pharmacy. But nothing worked and the horse’s wounds deteriorated.
On August 19, one Alwalid Monir reported the issue on a social media platform to grab the attention of animal rights activists.
A good number of responders expressed their hatred against the horse’s owner, while some of them expressed eagerness to help the ill-fated horse.
Later, volunteers from Care for Paws, an animal rights organization, went to the scene to rescue the animal.
The horse stood stiff and breathed rapidly. Flies were buzzing around its wounds.
Care for Paws Chairman Sourav Shamim, secretary general Zahid Hussain, volunteers Ayaz Ahmed and Shajidul Nayeem, and other rescuers, struggled for over an hour to find a van to transport the horse to their veterinary center in Jhigatola.
Wazed Ali Mollah, veterinary consultant for of the organization, examined the horse’s health and told his assistant Ilias Hossain to perform a quick dressing of the maggot infested wounds.
Speaking to The Business Standard, Wazed said: “The horse is suffering from strangles - a common disease among cattle and horses. It is a contagious bacterial disease which spreads all over the affected animal’s body. The disease also affects their respiratory systems.”
The vet added that the horse should have received treatment much earlier.
“Had the owner brought the horse to a vet in the initial stages of the infection its condition would have been better. We will have to wait and see how many more days he can survive,” Wazed said, adding that the condition has now become fatal for the animal.
After initial treatment, Care for Paws volunteers transferred the horse to an animal rehabilitation center in Keraniganj to join other sick and wounded animals in similar condition.
“It will go under extensive care at the rehabilitation center,” Care for Paws Chairman Sourav said.
