Chincoteague Police Chief Randy Mills confirmed “Dreamer’s Faith” was located on the fire company’s carnival grounds, in a corner where there is a chain link fence and several trees and bushes. A lawn maintenance contractor working in the area found the remains.
Investigators used a microchip to positively identify the pony. According to Chief Mills, there were no signs of any criminal activity and the department says the case is closed.
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57 comments:
So, in essence, the fire company killed it by not searching the entire enclosure after being unable to locate it, and immediately accusing others of stealing it.
It really does sound like neglect. How do you lose a healthy young horse in an enclosed area? Doesn't add up. No wonder case is closed. They don't anyone looking too close and hope it will just blow over and be forgotten.
For real 11:24. Upon first discovering the pony missing a perimeter check should have been done to make sure the fencing hadn't been damaged allowing for escape, which would have led to the discovery of the pony. I have over 50 acres fenced into 4 separate pastures and the fencing is checked daily. I'm surprised the PD didn't do this.
This case should NOT be closed. Both the PD and the FD have some answering to do to the public. Was the entire enclosure checked immediately upon realizing the pony was missing?
If you go back and read the Chino VFC's FB post of Sept 17th at 10:34 they act very defensive. The pony according to them was taken on the 6th or 7th. That in and of itself is not acceptable and should not be tolerated. The ponies should be and need to be checked on each and every day. It then took 10 more days for the "missing" pony to hit the media. Again not acceptable.
Residents of Chino should now have very little faith in the PD too. If in fact that pony was the whole time laying where they found it dead then that PD isn't worth a damn. If the pony wasn't there the whole time, then to say the case is closed reeks of either incompetence or a cover up.
the pony penning should cease and desist!!
this is an outrage and i agree with ALL the posts above!!
On Facebook when asked why the delay in getting on a statement on the missing pony this was the fire company's response-
"CHINCOTEAGUE VOLUNTEER FIRE CO. We and the cops are doing an investigation......dammit!! Is it ever good enough for anyone?????"
"we and the cops are doing an investigation" they said. Sounds like neither the fire company or the police dept could pour pee out of a boot with the directions written on the heel. How in the hell did they miss seeing this poor pony. I supported them before but no more. They have no business calling themselves 'cowboys.' Incompetent Clownboys is more like it.
Sooo what are they using the $1300 in additional reward money for?? Thats alot of money and time wasted for a simple walk around...
I just did a google street view of the carnival grounds and there is one very small clump of trees and bushes within the fenced in area.
From the Chino Pony FAQ page- "Where is the best place to see the Chincoteague Ponies in the wild?
About fifty of the adult ponies are fenced into an area just to the south of the main road and can be viewed by the public."
50 ponies kept in that small space is NOT acceptable and now it has become obvious that they can't be taken care of properly which includes a daily head count and when the head count is off you first check for a stuck or hurt pony as well as a breech in the fencing. This makes me sick and I do hope for the ponies sake and well being the VFC demands an independent investigation which would include a necropsy.
They probably didn't search. Evidently around 50 ponies are kept in that area. This would explain why they don't know for certain when the pony was last seen. It would also explain why no one found the pony sooner. Roaming around in the small enclosed area with 50 semi wild ponies is unnerving but is still not an excuse.
From a public relations standpoint the best the fire company can do at this point in time is to admit they made a huge mistake and vow to come up with safeguards so this never happens again. They should not even attempt to make any excuses. Own the mistake. The public is forgiving.
This has the potential to turn into a public relations disaster if they don't admit fault and admit it very very soon.
I know one thing.....I wouldnt want my house to catch on fire in Chincoteague!!
If they cant find a pony right there in their backyard (where its supposed to be) how they gonna find my house on fire!!!
All kidding aside this is not good at all! Poor pony! Plus what about the folks' 7500 bucks they paid to set it back free?? I sure hope at least they get that back!!
They were real quick to try and blame it on those who don't like them, I guess meaning animal rights activists and organizations.
With this outcome, it only gives those people more ammunition to use against the fire co.
Something is wrong when a pony can't roam safe and free. Something is very wrong with this.
Just accept it as over and done with.
Sounds like a far worst outcome for this poor pony than if someone had stolen her. Shame on the fire dept for not noticing she was missing sooner and shame on them and the PD for not doing a better search.
Social media is blowing up over this. If I were on the town council there that police chief would have gotten a not so nice phone call from me already. The short, curt, no answers, "case closed" statement isn't going to cut it. This has such the potential to affect Chincoteague's economy negatively that everything concerning it has to be done in a thoughtful way.
I hate to ever agree with Ireton but now I see why mayors would want to control and approve all press releases. This is the perfect example.
colic.... happens all the time....
This is deplorable that little thing probably died of malnutrition, dehydration and imagine its cries for help! This should not be closed and they should be charged with animal cruelty.
It is my understanding that some were trying to tell the fire company that this foal was sick all along and they were ignored by the Know It All's from the fire company. I agree this should not be closed. They are real good at saying ad nauseum how they 'own' the ponies and when you own an animal and people are telling you over and over and over it is sick you are obligated to do something about it so you can go to hell 2:23. The only accepting that needs to be done is the fire company accepting that they screwed up royally.
Anyone associated with this pony swim, penning, auction should be ashamed of themselves. It's not cute and you aren't clever pretending to be a cowboy. The ponies undergo unnecessary stress during the capture and separation process. Foals are forced to be weaned from their dams. Responsible husbandry practices recommend 4 to 6 months as the earliest age to separated mare and foal.
They are not 'thinning the herd' as they like to claim. A mare won't mate until the following year which gives them time to raise their foals. When foals are removed from their mothers, the mare has a strong urge to mate and quickly becomes pregnant again. This is not smart nor should be an acceptable form of herd management.
The Chincoteague officials should be urged to follow the example of herd management by immunocontraception already in place on Assateague where tourists still go without the exploitation of the ponies.
"Anonymous said...
Just accept it as over and done with.
October 15, 2015 at 2:23 PM"
No. It should not be over and done with. If in fact, some were telling the fire company (who "owns" the ponies) that particular foal was sick or in some sort of distress, by VA law the fire company is obligated to provide the animal with necessary emergency veterinary care. What is not clear with the law is under what conditions veterinary care would be considered necessary and what constitutes an emergency. This is something the county's Commonwealth Attorney would need to decide and it should be referred to their office. They should not be immune to the laws of the Commonwealth that everyone else has to abide by or face consequences.
When you have livestock,you check on them DAILY. If one or more are missing,you do a perimeter check along the entire fence for any damage that may have facilitated an escaped animal.Simple! This is going to hurt their tourism and maybe they will learn.Several years ago attended their firemens carnival and a lot of rides were closed ,we asked one of the operators why and he told us point blank that some of them couldn't make it because they were drinking heavy.Disgrace.
The mayor has no control over a fire company. They're a company who answers mainly to themselves. No difference in a small business.
This foal barely even looked old enough to be weaned and now we learn that it most likely got stuck in a very small overgrown section of a very small corral to probably starve to death. I'm disgusted that more care isn't given to these ponies. The CVFC should be forced to relinquish ownership of the herd.
I'm sure everyone in Chincoteague is devastated by this news and sure CFD and CPD will be doing a lot of soul searching. Easy for every one commenting here to cry foul and talk about what should've been. I'm sure nothing like this has happened over the decades long tradition of Pony Penning and God willing won't happen again. My heart goes out to the pony and people of Chincoteague.
"Easy for every one commenting here to cry foul and talk about what should've been."
Of course it is easy for every one commenting to cry foul 6:26. It is not like it's 200 acres were talking here. It's less than half a city block with a very small area of trees and underbrush that you can look right down on and see the ground through on Google Earth so it's not thick under brush at all.
Personally I think some knew the foal was there all along and kept the theft story alive and going to avoid any criticism that may come from activists or those whose tried to tell them that she was sick.
I'm curious to know if the PD searched the grounds or if the fire company told them they already did so the PD didn't search.
Oh yeah 6:26 they better do some soul searching. Yes they better! And it needs to start with more response when the ponies are reported sick and not their standard answer of "we know what we are doing."
I think it's a cover up and they knew all along the pony had died.
Thanks for the geography lesson 6:58. I've been going to the carnival there pretty regularly over the past 40 years. I know what the fairground looks like. What I don't know, and you don't either is if anyone knew the foal "was there all along" and someone tried to hide that fact for some nefarious reason. All anyone wants to do on this site is just stir the pot and immediately assign blame. Very sad.
6:26 I would agree with you except that when the news of the stolen pony first broke some people were claiming to have warned the cvfc the foal was sick and someone did have to jump the fence at some point to free another foal who was stuck in that very same area. Its the same area where the dead foal was found because that's the only place with any under bush and it is a very small area. All this was being said on social media and not anon comments.
What the hell is wrong with these people????? They can't even count the horses and the ponies on a daily basis???? Especially the little ponies who are too young to be on their own without daily supervision. Are the fire department personnel and the police department personnel so lazy they can't get out of a car or truck and check on living breathing animals which they certainly don't mind pimping to the public for money.
A group of independent citizens should make up a group that checks these animals daily along with a reputable vet to ensure all are healthy and safe. A full report should be printed in the paper weekly for the public to read and understand. Also, an independent investigation should be done sans the FD and PD. In addition, the money needs to be fully accounted for because it certainly isn't going for the horses/ponies welfare. Follow the money and into whose pockets is it going???
From the CVFC's Facebook the day they first reported the pony missing (Sept 17)
"Folks, we know that there are FEW people out there who do not like us or the fire company. We know that a FEW are radical pony people who feel that what we have done for 90 years all of a sudden is not good enough. However, this has taken it too far. We have NEVER encountered anything like this in 90 years and I say to those responsible, you have ruined a good thing and you have ruined a good thing for many, many people. You can rest assured that no stone will be left unturned in finding this pony."
"no stone left unturned" huh? What a joke they are. The dead pony was right under their noses and they have nerve to try and place the blame on "radical pony people."
I agree with above. They probably knew all along the pony had died.
To me some of the actions of those directly involved scream that they did know the pony was already dead. Just their bad attitudes on FB when asked reasonable questions like why the delay alerting the media. These were all concerned horse people who know stolen horses end up at the sales and the quicker the word is out the better.
Then someone felt compelled to explain why the pony had diarrhea. Some nonsense about alfalfa and the "certified" vet (what's a certified vet?) saying the ponies need cleaning out basically that diarrhea was good for them. Some FB commenters also knew the pony was missing before it was made public and said they even heard rumors that it had died.
Then you have people who wanted to volunteer to search and were told everything had been searched and those from horse/pony rescues being accused of stealing the foal when they commented. It's as though some did everything to distract away from what really was going on.
I think some in the fire company tried to cover up the death of this pony also.
I guess these "radical pony people" are those who tried telling both the FD and the vet that the pony's condition was deteriorating after she was taken away from her mother and didn't eat for 3 days and nothing was done. That foal should still have been nursing and if they have been taking foals away that young and forcing weaning then what they have been doing for 90 years is so incredibly wrong that it is animal cruelty and they should be held accountable. And how dare them blame anyone else for ruining a good thing. If they think what they are doing is a good thing then they are ignorant fools and so is anyone who supports them.
Typical knee-jerk reaction from the peanut gallery.
The fire dept owes apologies to the "radical pony people" for the false accusations and pinning as suspects and being searched.
"Anonymous said...
Typical knee-jerk reaction from the peanut gallery.
October 16, 2015 at 5:47 AM"
Hardly a "knee-jerk reaction". The only jerks are those with the CVFC who should have been doing their "soul searching" long before this happened. They have been repeated told they aren't using accepted standards and practices by separating a 2 month old from it's mother and force weaning. Anyone questioning their practices were maligned as radicals and told they been doing it this way for 90 years and they know what they are doing. Lobotomies used to be an accepted and practiced procedure too, doesn't make it right.
No foal should be weaned younger than 4 months unless it's an emergency situation. Evidently there are pics showing her emaciated condition right before she supposedly went missing. She should have been on 24 hr around the clock watch but no the CVFC "knows what they are doing."
I am mostly sad that someone really didn't steal her. Rescue her really. She would have been much better off surely as someone's prized pet instead of a cash "cow" to be yes, pimped out by those in the CVFC who to them the ponies only mean dollar signs.
This is sooo wrong in sooo many different ways! First and foremost yes Chincoteague Fire Dept and Police Dept are so wrong for the way this has been handled. Second if so many people were concerned why didnt some locals walk the property themselves? Too lazy?
10:52 Some people tried to walk the property and were told no because it was already done. The fire co. has released another 'statement' and have refused to take any responsibility for the death of this pony who likely starved to death after being tangled in the underbrush.
Go to the Chincoteague vol fire co FB and read the BS they just put out. Joe please could you make a post of it. It's so maddening that they refuse to take any responsibility for what amounts to gross neglect and they don't even apologize and even say it isn't their fault.
10:52 They didn't even know she was missing until concerned people were telling them to which they said ALL ponies were accounted for.
Now they are refusing to take any kind of responsibility.
What kind of people live on Chincoteague is what I want to know. What kind of parents raised these total evaders of responsibility! Such low life's! I'd like to think they would be ashamed of themselves but when you have no conscience and are a low life nothing bothers you.
" Anonymous said...
Thanks for the geography lesson 6:58. I've been going to the carnival there pretty regularly over the past 40 years. I know what the fairground looks like. What I don't know, and you don't either is if anyone knew the foal "was there all along" and someone tried to hide that fact for some nefarious reason. All anyone wants to do on this site is just stir the pot and immediately assign blame. Very sad.
October 15, 2015 at 7:32 PM"
The area in question is maybe 4000 sq ft and the area where she was found maybe 400 sq ft of a few trees and some underbrush. It would take you all of 30 seconds to do a walk through that area. They have admitted to smelling something but even after knowing the filly was missing didn't even bother to go investigate. People who were concerned about her condition notices she wash missing and tried to report it to the FD but were told all the ponies were accounted for. They tried their hardest to cover her death until they couldn't anymore and let it go with the stolen story.
They knew she was dead but didn't want to hear about it from those who had repeatedly warned that she was sick. What isn't making the news is a yearling who also died. His poor condition they were warned about also.
7:32, If getting the truth out is stirring the pot and "sad" then so be it. The CVFC has told lie after lie about Faith. They tried to say she was older than she was because some were concerned about her being ripped from her mother at 2 months old. When they were caught and challenged about why she swam at that young age, they said she was trailered until pics proved otherwise. They were told she was sick. They did nothing. They were told she was missing and they said all the ponies were accounted for in the pen until they couldn't hide that she was missing anymore. After admitting she was "missing" they admit (today) something smelled but didn't go and look? They probably only admitted to smelling something because others reported it so they couldn't lie about that.
Come on now, if you don't think they weren't trying to hide something then I don't know what to say.
The more I learn about these ponies and the swim and auction, the less I like it. Their practices are less than what is accepted for responsible equine ownership. Pony mill comes to mind. They should relinquish the herd to the National Park Service to be managed by the US Fish and Wildlife.
Disturbing to say the least. The FC put out a "Final" notice which failed to address any of the serious concerns people had about this filly.
The sequence appears to be-
1. She was reported as sick by several who also raised concerned about a 2 month old (accepted practice minimum 4 months) being separated from her mother.
2. She was reported missing, but at first people were being told "all ponies were accounted for."
3. Finally on Sept 11 FC does a search, admit she is "missing" and says it was around 6th or 7th she was last seen. Reports to the media go out around the 18th.
4. Social media is lit up with comments saying she was already dead and FC is covering it up. Comments such as these are deleted.
5. She is found dead 1 1/2 months later on carnival grounds. FC admits smells were reported.
6. FC issues "final" statement in which they completely fail to address any of the concerns not limited to but including that they knew she was dead. They won't touch this subject with a 10 ft pole and are still deleting comments suggesting otherwise. It's as if they don't want to put in writing that no one from or associated with the FC had any knowledge whatsoever that the pony had died.
It's all a ruse. They think just because the HSUS and others have been mostly silent on this they are gone. They haven't gone anywhere but the wild mustangs and the BLM has been an topic of focus for a few years.
The FC has infiltrated the buyback groups so pre round up and auction they know what groups would like what foal and how much they have to spend. The FC sends in shills to bid against the buyback groups.
Regardless of the age of the foal they will take it from it mother if interest is shown by a buyback group which causes forced weaning and auction it off.
They think they are smart but those who have been watching have moles too and maybe just maybe some of the buyback groups weren't what they appeared to be. Heck maybe some of the so called salt water cowboys have been on another 'payroll' for awhile now. Money does have a way of talking.
Just because the FC hasn't heard from some doesn't mean some aren't around-constantly.
It's no secret that the best interest of the ponies are not their main concern especially now since they are raising funds to build a Fire Palace.
So the old timers at the department didnt sell this one on the side?
The town lacks any real critical press (newspaper/blogs etc.) that ask hard questions of those in power. All you get are happy press releases from the VFD or police or Chamber etc. Nobody ever gets confronted or asked hard questions. No stories on all of the unsolved petty property crime. No stories on the permanent welfare/disabled underclass and drug problems on the island. Nope, just make sure you come to the island for a great carnival and oyster festival and visit the stuffed Misty.
The VFD's conduct here is reprehensible and a disservice to its many excellent and hard working volunteers. The VFD is so insular and arrogant and immune from criticism I truly doubt they will ever admit their incompetence and dishonesty. They are playing right into the hands of their straw-man enemy, the 'pony fanatics.' Serves them right.
" Anonymous said...
So the old timers at the department didnt sell this one on the side?
October 18, 2015 at 10:19 AM"
Huh? They probably would have if they didn't kill it first by completely ignoring the concerns of people who told them she was sick.
No accident at all. Complete negligence on their part. All about money to them. Very sick and disturbed people.
Local LE search the Chincoteague Pony Rescue facility in MD at the request of the Chincoteague PD but didn't bother to do a complete search of the carnival grounds and pony enclosure.
I am not faulting LE at all who were most likely told the compound had been searched and anyone would certainly think you could trust a fire company! Obviously not because if they had looked she would have been found. The area of trees is so small and could have been searched in a minute or 2. This makes me think she did die and they hid her there and covered her with leaves or underbrush because you can see into that area from the other side of the fence and with her white markings she would have been seen by some of the fence watchers. That they refused help in searching the compound is telling too.
From USA today-"In an interview Wednesday, hours before the discovery of the remains, Terry explained why buyback foals are separated from their mothers over their first winter. The suckling ponies can "draw down" and threaten the health of mares, particularly older ones. There's also the possibility mares will push the foals away, leaving them to starve.
“We think it’s the best thing to keep everyone alive," Terry said"
This Terry scum is a piss poor example of a human being. He thinks "it's the best to keep everyone alive." Liar! They think it's best to continue to keep the money rolling in on their pony mill! If they are worried about the health of the older mares, "pony contraception" is available. It costs money though and that would cut into their profits as would preventing the mare from reproducing. "Cowboys" my a$$. All they are is losers who want to show off and feel like big shots at the expense of the ponies.
A pony mill is exactly what is going on there. It's no difference than someone operating a puppy mill. Pimping ponies to make money. Dreamer's Faith was born on 6.6.15 and was separated from her mother at the end of July, so she was not even a full 2 months old. 4 months is the accepted standard with that being the minimum.
"Anonymous Anonymous said...
Thanks for the geography lesson 6:58. I've been going to the carnival there pretty regularly over the past 40 years. I know what the fairground looks like. What I don't know, and you don't either is if anyone knew the foal "was there all along" and someone tried to hide that fact for some nefarious reason. All anyone wants to do on this site is just stir the pot and immediately assign blame. Very sad.
October 15, 2015 at 7:32 PM"
If you had any compassion you would stop going to the carnival. You better believe that pot needs to be stirred and if you don't then you are worse then they are. They are to blame. The entire blame lies on them. That poor filly starved to death right in front of them after repeated warnings she was ill. She could hardly walk and was laying down a lot. One of the pony groups told them she was missing on the 5th and they did nothing. This after telling them how sick she was. They did not even search for her until the 11th. She should have been on milk pellets. If she were they would have realized she was gone within a day. The fact that they denied she was missing at first speaks volumes. When they figured out the group was not going to give up they concocted the stolen lie.
When you look at the pics of that filly from the day of the round up and then some of the last known pics of her it is criminal how they allowed her to go downhill. She was literally starving to death right before their very eyes and they dismissed any and all concerns people had. She wasn't the only one who suffered the same fate. As mentioned the foal Soul Surfer died to and was skin and bones in the last pics of him.
As per Karen Peck on What's happening to the Chincoteague ponies FB page--- 1991 was pre the 'buyback' program----
I feel that I have to speak of my experience with the CVFD. I had been an avid supporter of the CVFD for 30+ years and followed the VA herd for many years more. I am the OWNER of Merry Teapot. Yes, I can state that as FACT. She was personally owned by me and loaned to the FD in 1991. FACT: At the time, I was told that she would be CARED for by the FD if she could be used as a brood mare and would be returned to me, when I saw fit. FACT: she made over $60,000 + for the FD over the years from the sale of her foals. FACT: because of her offspring, who are still on the island and active members of the herd, she is still making $$ for them. FACT: She was a pet who I visited numerous times though out the year for 21 YEARS. FACT: she KNEW her name and came to me when called. FACT: in 2012 when she came in during round up looking like a skeleton, I requested the FD to return her to me, was told the Pony Committee would have to vote on it. FACT: Got NO response. FACT: I OFFERED to make a $5,000.00 donation if they would just PLEASE return her to me. Again, NO response. FACT: At that point, I was going to contact my attorney. When I asked FD how long the old "at risk" mares would be on carnival grounds, I was told by Pony Committee member that they would stay on carnival grounds until fall round up for some TLC. FACT: That evening the old sick ponies were removed from carnival grounds during the night. FACT: I called Pony Committee chairman Thornton to ask where they were, and I was told they were taken "way up north" and set loose on the beach
con't---- FACT: These ponies were never seen again. I played "nice" with the CVFD during all of this, which in hind sight was a BIG mistake. I was lied to, I was ignored and when I became vocal about MY pony's neglect and subsequent demise, I was bullied by them publicly on social media sites. I have my own opinion on nature taking it's course. I am no idiot...I know that life on the refuge is harsh and I knew that every time I saw Merry Teapot, that it might be my last. These ponies cannot be monitored 24/7. Things happen; However, when you see a pony in Merry Teapot's condition (starving), AND the Vet SEES it and DOES NOTHING, to me that is nothing short of negligence and cruelty. I cannot state as FACT that she was not humanely euthanized, but I pray to GOD that she was (It is my opinion, that she was not). We as humans have a tendency to project our own "human" emotions onto these ponies and "what they would want" and how they would choose to end their lives. Horses don't "want" to go "home" to die with their "friends." This herd is OWNED by the FD and they have the same responsibility to provide and care for them, just the same as if they were living on privately owned property. If the authorities had found those ponies on my land in that condition, I would have been arrested. Just because they are allowed to graze by permit on federal land is NO EXCUSE for abuse. I have said my piece, and I will not get into a pissing contest with anybody over what my experience has been in dealing with the FD. Just an FYI, I am a horse owner and I am local and I SEE a lot. We all are entitled to our opinions, after all this is America.
I think it is time to end this pony penning. Never liked it screwing with wild life to make a buck. All the grant money for the FD they never really needed this. Complete audit of finances needs to done as well. Something stinks here
I agree 1:10. It is a pony mill. Some of the mares are pregnant year round pretty much because they are pregnant for 11 months. This is why they take the foals away from the mothers well before the time recognized as appropriate under industry standards. When the foals are taking away the mares have a strong urge to mate.
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