Mo. Northland Insurance, Humane Society Agreement Saves 24 Horses

The Humane Society of Missouri has been given ownership of the 24 horses and a hinny who survived an accident on Interstate 44 in September.

As part of the deal between the Humane Society’s Longmeadow Rescue Ranch and Northland Insurance Co., the Humane Society takes ownership of the animals in exchange for not seeking recovery of costs associated with the rescue.

So far, those costs have exceeded $84,000, the Humane Society said.

The horses will eventually be put up for adoption, Humane Society spokesman Samantha Leavitt said.

The accident happened Sept. 27, killing 16 horses. Another horse had to be euthanized Oct. 19. Also, two mares have miscarried foals.

Twenty-three of the horses are now being cared for at the Longmeadow ranch in Union. One is being treated at an equine veterinary hospital. The hinny, a hybrid between a stallion and a female donkey, is also being treated at a veterinary hospital.

The horses were en route an Illinois slaughterhouse when the truck overturned between Sullivan and St. Clair.

Horses are slaughtered at three foreign-owned plants, two in Texas and one in Illinois. In all, about 88,000 horses, mules and other equines were slaughtered last year, according to the Agriculture Department.