Stand up for horses

To the editor:
In the Beacon the week of Dec. 27, there was an article about abused and neglected horses.
I truly believe all animals should be loved, protected and taken care of. We all know people who get a cat, dog, bird, snake, horse, etc., who should never be allowed to own a stuffed animal, much less a real one.
My heart goes out to two horses on property across from the new hospital on U.S. 17. No matter the weather, the horses have no cover.
Most horse owners during this extremely cold weather have blankets on their horses, as well as shelter, but not those two horses. I have noticed this for the past three or four years.
What makes this worse is there is no law requiring shelter. I wish owners were made to stay with horses during harsh weather, day and night, with only a light jacket to keep them warm.
Please, all animal lovers, come together and help animals. Help put a law in effect so every animal has shelter, food and clean water.
No animal, unless it’s in the wild, should have to stay out in the weather. Even in the summer, the horses have no shade.
Something needs to be done. Horses need someone to stand up for them.
Julie Stalls
Leland

Editor’s note: According to Brunswick County Animal Protective Services, horses and other livestock do not have to have shelter, just a wind break or tree line.