Help Milo – Remus Christmas Appeal

INGATESTONE, U.K. - Dec. 15, 2014 - PRLog -- Remus Memorial Horse Sanctuary are appealing for help to save the life of Milo, a tiny knee-high grey Falabella pony, this Christmastime.  Milo is emaciated. His teeth are so infected that you can smell him before you reach his stable. Added to this he has a bad sinus infection and severe liver issues, is arthritic, has Cushings’ Disease and is riddled with lice and worms.  One eye has died and the other is so infected and sore that he keeps it clasped close. Remus need to raise £5,000 for Milo’s care including an operation on his mouth and sinuses, a visit from specialised ophthalmologists to see if they can help his eyes, and to provide the ongoing care of food, warmth and medications.

When he arrived at Remus Horse Sanctuary in November, with another little pony called Toffee, he was so weak that the Remus vet said, "I don’t know how he has the strength to hold himself up".  It is hard not to cry when you look at this dear little pony that has never done anything wrong in his life yet his whole body has been abused and is so infected and sore. When he came into the Sanctuary, he didn’t know what to do with himself and just stood with his head in the corner of the stable – resigned to his fate.

Whilst financially things are hard at the Sanctuary, Founder Sue Burton and her dedicated team could not turn their back on these two ponies Sue said, “we believe we can give them care and love and comfort and that they deserve a chance to learn that there is love and caring in this world. So many animals (and humans) come into this world and leave it never knowing any kindness or softness. At least Milo and Toffee will know it!”

Both ponies are horrendously thin and in such a pitiful state. Toffee is a small Welsh pony; she is very skinny and has a thick Cushingoid coat. (Cushings’ Disease is an endocrine disease that affects the pituitary gland at the base of the spine and causes among other things headaches, laminitis and low immunity). She has sores under her coat, is crawling with lice and has a belly full of worms.

Both ponies are quite old, in their late twenties, but already over the last few weeks Remus have slowly started to see an improvement, but they need much more work. To get their weight on, but slowly and safely, they are being fed hourly.

“Even now we don’t know if little Milo will pull through but we certainly want to give him every chance possible and already, despite only a few weeks at Remus we are starting to see their characters emerge and Milo now feels safe enough to come out from the corner. With specialist eye drops, his sore eye is now open. He has antibiotics and pain relief for his mouth and he just loves someone sitting with him and gently stroking and soothing his face.”

Sue finds it hard to believe that such innocent animals can be allowed to get like this and sadly, this is a sign of the economic climate, where people cannot afford to pay for veterinary care, “every time I see them it tears me apart that they should have suffered as they have. Toffee and Milo are just two of the many thousands of horses and ponies out there suffering daily and these two are the lucky ones who have found sanctuary and some help.”

“Please help Milo this Christmas by giving us the chance to give him a chance of life”. Donations can be made by sending a cheque to the Sanctuary or telephoning to make a donation by credit card, or by payment online www.remussanctuary.org or, for more information, contact Sue Burton on tel: 01277 356191.