Horse dumped, left to die at auction
WAYNESBURG – The Greene County Humane Society is seeking to identify a man who dumped a dying Belgian horse on property at the Waynesburg Livestock Auction in West Waynesburg Thursday.
The large draft horse had been brought to Thursday’s auction to be sold, but was not accepted by auction officials because it was a “downer,” or a horse that could not stand, said Derek Forman, a humane officer.
Instead of taking the horse and leaving, the man apparently backed his trailer up to an area on the west side of the auction property and dumped the animal in the weeds, he said.
Forman said he was called to the livestock auction about 3:30 p.m. The horse was old and sickly and veterinarian Jennifer Behm had to be called to euthanize it, he said.
Arrangements also had to be made to bury the animal at the site. Forman said he received a permit to bury the horse and received assistance in completing the work from Greene County and Waynesburg Borough.
Because auction officials had rejected the animal, no one took the name of the man who owned it or transported it to the sale. Forman said he is investigating the matter as a possible abuse case. Anyone with information can call Forman at 724-966-8687 or the Greene County Humane Society at 724-627-9988.