The death of a Newfoundland pony last week was tragic and entirely preventable, says the West Coast rancher still grieving the loss. The 11-year-old mare was apparently fed too much by people passing by the pasture where Dwyer’s little Catalina, or “Cat” for short, grazes with other animals. Jess Boyd, a vet herself, says the sheer number of partially eaten apples around the lethargic horse last Thursday was the first sign of trouble. Boyd says the pony’s condition quickly deteriorated from there. She says the animal was exhibiting disruptive behavior such as grinding her teeth, kicking her belly, violently throwing herself to the ground and rolling around in obvious pain. Boyd believes that by the time she realized something was wrong, it was too late to save the animal and she had to be put down. He says it’s a tough reminder for people to avoid feeding animals that aren’t yours—wild or domesticated.
