Kathy Grissum, who lives south of Baldwin City, feeds some of the horses that she has taken in after they were rescued from a Douglas County residence. Grissum took in eight horses after the Lawrence Humane Society received reports of neglect.
Three questions with ... Kathy Grissum of Baldwin City
Kathy Grissum of Baldwin City talks about the horses she recently rescued.
Baldwin City resident Kathy Grissum has come to the rescue of eight starving horses in Douglas County.
New owners sought
People who are interested in adopting horses that have been rescued can call either of the following contacts:
¢ The Lawrence Humane Society at 843-6835.
¢ Baldwin City resident Kathy Grissum at 594-2800.
After four weeks of care on her 25 acres, one of the horses gained 300 pounds and "still looks a little bit thin," she said. That particular 7-year-old horse, named Star, is also blind, likely because of malnutrition, she said.
In helping the horses, Grissum also helped the Lawrence Humane Society because it didn't have shelter for the animals.
It's not the first time the self-proclaimed animal lover has helped the Humane Society. She took in a pot-bellied pig that she still owns. Earlier this month, she also helped capture one of the two Appaloosa stallions that had roamed the Vinland area.
"Kathy is so nice. She always says 'yes,'" Midge Grinstead, director of the Lawrence Humane Society, said.
The Humane Society, a veterinarian and the Bureau of Land Management, which protects wild horses, joined forces to rescue the horses from a family that neglected to take care of them. Grinstead said the family couldn't afford to feed the horses properly.
"They were eating trees," she said.
Grissum gave several donations of hay to the family beginning in February. On March 12, she personally delivered the hay and saw the condition of the horses. Star needed to be rescued immediately.
"I have never seen a mare in this poor condition," Grissum said. "On a scale of one to 10 - 10 being great - she was about a 1.5, if that," Grissum said.
She described the horse as looking like an outline of a skeleton and estimated that it weighed between 650 and 700 pounds. The average adult horse weighs approximately 1,200 pounds.
Soon after, two other mares, two foals, two yearlings and a stallion were rescued.
Grinstead said she has increasingly received complaints about neglected horses.
In 2005, she received between 10 and 20 calls. That number doubled in 2006, and she has already received 25 this year.
"We see it all the time. People will get land and say they can have a horse now," Grinstead said. "I think horses are the hardest thing to raise."
Grissum gave the horses a deworming treatment before loading them on her trailer.
"They haven't had worming in probably four to five years; you could tell some were really infested," she said.
She said they also were difficult to approach because they hadn't been handled and had to learn to eat grain.
Purina, a pet food company, donated grain, and the Humane Society paid for the horses' vaccinations.
Grissum said a veterinarian in Overbrook adopted the two mares with foals. She said the others are ready for adoption. Any donations received will go to the Humane Society.
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458casul (anonymous) says…
she could have sold these horses to pay her bills and feed her family 2 years ago but she chose to do this to them because she hated her exhusband, they should charge her
westernksgirl (anonymous) says…
?? as to the previous posts. Are you referring to Kathy Grissum? If so, those aren't HER horses to sell/trade/barter with. If you will read the article . . .
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The Humane Society, a veterinarian and the Bureau of Land Management, which protects wild horses, joined forces to rescue the horses from a family that neglected to take care of them. Grinstead said the family couldn't afford to feed the horses properly.
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It goes on to say, how the horses are up through adoption through the humane society . .once again, not HERS! Besides, who doesn't *hate* their ex? If they didn't, there would be no need for a divorce.
mommaeffortx2 (anonymous) says…
exhusband? did I miss something in the article?
Also Grissum rescued the animal Grinstead is head of humane soc. no metion of the family name the horses lived at.
b_asinbeer (anonymous) says…
Looks like 458casul has a personal vendetta against the "hero"...
costello (anonymous) says…
"Looks like 458casul has a personal vendetta against the "hero":"
I took 458's comment to be about the horses' original owner - that she could have sold the horses rather than let them get in the bad state they're in.
Victoria (anonymous) says…
458casul (Anonymous) says:
..."she could have sold these horses to pay her bills and feed her family 2 years ago but she chose to do this to them because she hated her exhusband, they should charge her"...
458 Casul...what on earth are you talking about? The woman is helping some HORSES, for Heaven's sake. She isn't asking for anything from anyone. Leave her alone and quit criticizing kind efforts from others.
458casul (anonymous) says…
ok people I was talking about the previous owner kathy has only had them a little while and the exhusband of the previous owner took two of the horses and ran them off a cliff he is being charged for that. for all of you that cant read two years ago in my post go smoke another bowl..kathy keep up the good work and thanks for taking those horses away from that mess
mommaeffortx2 (anonymous) says…
still lost about the whole exhusband thing.
mommaeffortx2 (anonymous) says…
ok but there is now mention of the ex in this article is there? If there is I missed it so how are people supposed to know what you are talking about. And the way you posted sounds more like me and is hard to get who you are talking about, I am known on here for my bad gramer and running on thought that just blend together so people are left going uh???
Victoria (anonymous) says…
456 casul....for you to assume that because we don't understand you and don't read your posts from two years ago (who would want to??) that we need to "go smoke another bowl" is ridiculous. You don't have to be insulting. I don't now nor ever have smoked anything. Just because someone quetions you doesn't mean you have to strike back. Can't we all just get along and have different opinions? It's the freedom of speech thing...hope that doesn't offend you.
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jecagirl (anonymous) says…
"she could have sold these horses to pay her bills and feed her family 2 years ago but she chose to do this to them because she hated her exhusband, they should charge her"
In her orginal post it says, that she could have sold those horses 2 years ago. That it is how you figure out she is talking about the previous owner. She didn't mean Kathy or that you need to read posts from 2 years ago.
mom_of_three (anonymous) says…
"she" could have been anybody, because the article didn't mention if the former owner was male or female. It was just a little confusing.....
costello (anonymous) says…
I guess I've been reading these forums too long; 458's first post made perfect sense to me. ;-)
I'm sorry the horses had to suffer and at least one has irreversible problems. Thank goodness for Kathy. I hope the horses are all adopted by good homes.