Marie Kemp and DeeDee Golberg wait for horses to leave their trailer after rescuing them. Golberg of Spirit Horse Equine Rescue and Education Center led the operation.
More than 60 horses, llamas and goats were rescued Saturday from a farm in Lima Township. The animals were owned by Harlan Norby. He agreed to turn over the animals, saying that at age 69 he was no longer able to take care of them. 'I'm doing what I felt was best for the animals and best for me,' Norby said.
Horses slowly make their way out of a trailer after they were rescued from a difficult situation. Harlan Norby owned the animals, but the original six animals became more than 60 and at the age of 69, Norby could not adequately care for them.
LIMA TOWNSHIP — When Harlan Norby bought a couple horses, llamas and goats two decades ago, he did not intend to have the herd grow so large he could no longer care for it.
But six animals became more than 60. And the 69-year-old man has aged and no longer has the time or strength to train them.
Once the animals began escaping, causing neighbors to complain to law enforcement seven times, Norby decided to surrender most of his herd to the Rock County Humane Society.
Many of the horses were taken to a temporary home Saturday, but the horses, llamas and goats still need to be adopted.
"I love animals. I just enjoy having them, but it got to be too much," he said. "I'm doing what I felt was best for the animals and best for me.
"It's pretty heartbreaking," he said. "I'd like to see them go to good homes, someone who can take care of them and train them."
It was not a case of neglect, the Humane Society decided. Norby just couldn't handle the number of animals he owned.
It will take a few weeks to find homes for all the llamas and goats, but some of the horses were picked up Saturday.
The Spirit Horse Equine Rescue and Education Center gathered nine horses from Norby's farm and took them to a foster home west of Janesville. About 20 more horses will be picked up later.
Many of the horses need hoof care, dental work, vaccinations and neutering, said DeeDee Golberg of Spirit Horse. The rescue organization will spend about $10,000 on health care and food.
"They're going to need mental, emotional and physical rehabilitation," Golberg said.
When the horses arrived at their temporary home, they walked off two trailers and quickly began eating grass in the pasture. An electric fence kept them in pens.
"Once they're trained and healthy, we'll put them up for adoption," said Wendy Becker of Spirit Horse. "Most of this whole group from this farm hasn't had much human contact."
The process of Norby surrendering his animals began when a deputy went to Norby's home on North Vickerman Road in Lima Township on Tuesday, Sept. 16, for a report of a loose llama in the neighbor's barn, according to Rock County Sheriff's Department.
A neighbor told the deputy Norby's llamas and horses routinely escape and run wild, according to sheriff's reports. The neighbor said one llama had gone in her horse barn and would not leave.
When Norby arrived, he told the deputy he could not move the llama because he is too old and unable to control his animals, according to sheriff's reports.
But he couldn't find anyone who wanted them.
He admitted to a deputy that his herd had grown out of control, according to sheriff's reports.
The deputy called the Humane Society to have the animals checked.
James Hurley of the Humane Society went to Norby's farm and inspected the animals, according to sheriff's reports.
About 30 horses, 22 llamas, 18 goats, ducks and chickens were on the property, according to sheriff's reports.
The animals were well fed with hay, but they lacked clean water.
And the fence around the pasture was in disrepair, according to sheriff's reports.
Hurley and Norby agreed that it was best for the horses, llamas and goats to be turned over to the Humane Society.
On Saturday, Cindy Johns was volunteering to help Spirit Horse get the horses from Norby's farm to their foster home. She loves horses, but doesn't own them anymore.
"It's my way of getting next to them again," Johns said. "They're wonderful animals."
Later in the afternoon, Norby expressed no regret after seeing his horses get taken away form his property.
"It's the best thing for the good of the animals," he said. "I'm almost 70 years old."