Report Neglect

At BEHS, one of our goals is to help alleviate the suffering of equines.  One of the ways we do this is by investigating reports of neglect or abuse and working with law enforcement to remove those horses and other equines who are  being neglected or abused.

In Texas, neglect is defined as "tortured, seriously overworked, unreasonably abandoned, unreasonably deprived of necessary food, care, or shelter, cruelly confined, or caused to fight with another anima",  (Texas Health and Safety Code, Title 10 Health and Safety of Animals, subchapter 821).

In Arkansas, a person commits cruelty to animals if he/she abandons any animal, subjects any animal to cruel mistreatment, subjects any animal to cruel neglect, or kills or injures an animal belonging to another wihout legal privilege or consent of the owner.  (Arkansas Code of 1987, Title 5 Criminal Offenses, Subtitle 6, Chapter 62, Subchapter 1).

If you worry that horses, ponies, donkeys, or mules are being neglected or abused, please report those animals either to BEHS or to the local authorities.  Even if you are not sure if what you witnesses constitutes legal neglect, please report the situation.  BEHS or local authorities can investigate and determine whether the horses are being neglected.

If you have a neglect case to report in Texas and Arkansas, you can call us at (888) 542-5163 or email neglect@bluebonnetequine.org. BEHS may not be able to investigate all reports of neglect in Arkansas due to a lack of manpower. If we receive neglect reports in an area we cannot service, we will call the case into the sheriff's department and ask them to investigate.

When reporting neglect, please provide us with the following:

• Your name and contact information - We do not give out complainants' names or contact info, but we may need to get in touch with you to get better directions.
• Address or good, clear directions to the property where the horses are located. If you only provide the town or road, we cannot find the horses.
• A description of the horses. This should include the number, date you saw them, conditions they are living in, etc.
• Other agencies you have contacted. If you have contacted the sheriff's office or another rescue, please let us know.
• Any other information you think may be important.