RESCUE

IT TOOK NEARLY THREE HOURS TO GET BENJAMIN TO THE FIRE/POLICE STATION. IF YOU LOOK CLOSELY AT THE PHOTO ON THE LEFT YOU CAN SEE THE MANY WOUNDS ON HIS BODY. THE LARGE GREEN SHEET AROUND HIS NECK HELPED TO PROTECT HIM AS HE WAS PULLED OUT OF THE MUCK. BOTH COQUI AND THE FIREMEN THOUGHT BENJIE WAS GOING TO DIE, BUT HE HAD A WILL TO LIVE.

THE ENTRE RIOS FIREMEN GET BENJIE IN THE SUPPORT HARNESS AS HE COULDN'T STAND VERY WELL ON HIS OWN, AND THEN HE GETS A MUCH NEEDED DRINK OF FRESH COOL WATER

THE CANADIAN VOICE FOR ANIMALS IN CANADA, ARGENTINA, PERU, AND NORWAY WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO THANK THE WONDERFULLY CARING AND DEDICATED FIREMEN/POLICE OF ENTRE RIOS. EACH DAY THEY GO TO WORK KNOWING THAT THEY COULD BE PUTTING THEIR LIVES IN DANGER. IT ISN'T A SECRET THAT WE CONSIDER THESE YOUNG MEN OUR UNSUNG HEROES.

Sargento Sergio Vargas (Firefighter of the Police of Entre Rios)
Oficial Juan Pablo Godoy (Firefighter of the Police of Entre Rios)
Agente Iván Rolón (Firefighter of the Police of Entre Rios)
Agente Hugo Nicolet (Drugs Division of Police of Entre Rios)

WITH HIS THIRST QUENCHED, BENJIE WATCHES AS COQUI PREPARES HIS FIRST DECENT MEAL IN MANY A YEAR

THIS DEAR SOUL SHOULD WEIGH AT LEAST 400 KILOGRAM, BUT HE WEIGHS IN AT 104 KILOGRAM; HE WAS MORE THAN HALF STARVED AND BY THE AMOUNT OF WOUNDS ON HIS TIRED OLD BODY, IT IS APPARENT HE WAS SEVERELY ABUSED.

THE MANY WHITE SPOTS ON BENJAMIN ARE WOUNDS THAT HAVE BEEN COVERED WITH AN ANTIBIOTIC MEDICINE TO HELP THEM HEAL.

Around 6:30 PM, on April 30th, Coqui Montiel, President of CVFAF in Argentina, received word that a horse had been abandoned in the centre section of the local race track. When Coqui and the police arrived at the track it was in total darkness. Helping the horse then would probably have injured him further. The next morning at 8:30 with the help of some firemen a special net was made and Benjamin was slowly hauled out of the dirt and mire; the process took more than two and a half hours as there was no access to move in any vehicles. He was in very bad shape when he arrived at the Police Veterinary Hospital. He was terribly dehydrated, but intravenous feeding helped. Benjamin was placed into a harness and lifted up so that he could stand. An edema was discovered on one of his legs; the fluid was drained which gave him some relief. It is believed that Benjamin is probably about ten years old, possibly older, and the whole of his life was spent plodding along the streets while his owner collected garbage for disposal in the dump. Benjamin should weigh at least 400 kg, but he has weighed in at less than 105 kg. The vets said Benjamin's condition is the result of years of malnourishment and maltreatment. He was slowly starving to death. His owner knew this and that is why he led Benjamin to the race track centre where the grass was very tall and where there was a dip in the earth. He never expected that his horse would be discovered so quickly.

For the past week Coqui has been taking care of Benjamin; he's eating a lot of food and drinking a lot of water. He is slowly getting to know his new found friend and is now nudging her with his dear old face. Coqui has given up the mattress on her bed so that Benjamin will have a soft area to lie on. Coqui will sleep on a canvas cot until Benjamin gains some weight and will be able to sleep on the soft earth at Coqui's home. The vets think it will be about three months before he can be released to her and taken to his new safe haven called the Eagle's Nest, where he will meet some of his own kind and live a long and happy life.

BENJAMIN ENJOYS HIS FIRST DECENT MEAL IN MANY YEARS; OATS, FRUIT AND LOTS OF CARROTS.

WHEN BENJAMIN IS RESTING ON HIS BED, COQUI AND THE VETS DRESS HIS WOUNDS AND MASSAGE HIS TIRED OLD LEGS AND BODY.

DONATIONS ARE DESPERATELY NEEDED SO THAT WE CAN GET BENJAMIN HEALTHY AGAIN. ANY AMOUNT WILL HELP PAY FOR HIS FOOD AND MEDICINE.

Benjie is still hanging and we have to lie him down once a day for three hours so that his legs don't get swollen. On Saturday we'll try to see if he can walk on the grass, I do hope he stays up by himself. Benjie is in good spirits, I guess he knows his life has changed forever and he'll never have to work or do anything he doesn't want to ever again.

BENJIE WITH SOME HELP FROM SARGENTO AYUDANTE RUBEN COLLIARD, OFFICIAL INSPECTOR GABRIEL CABANA AND COQUI, HAD HIS FIRST WALK TODAY, BUT AFTER 15 MINUTES HE HAD TO LIE DOWN.

LAST NIGHT COQUI WENT TO SEE BENJIE AT 1:30 AM TO MAKE SURE HE WAS SETTLED IN FOR THE NIGHT. SHE NOTICED HIS HARNESS WAS A BIT TIGHT SO SHE LOOSENED THE KNOT TO GIVE HIM SOME SLACK. BENJIE, SOMEHOW, WAS ABLE TO GET OUT OF HIS HARNESS, (which is still a mystery) AND HE WAS FOUND THIS MORNING AT 8:30 AM IN THE PRISON COMPOUND EATING SOME GRASS. POOR COQUI NEARLY HAD A HEART ATTACK. POOR BENJIE LOOKED EXHAUSTED. HE ISN'T STRONG ENOUGH TO GET DOWN IN A LYING POSITION ON HIS OWN. THE FIREMEN CAME TO COQUI'S RESCUE AND BENJIE WAS PUT TO BED. HE WAS ONE HAPPY HORSE.

IF YOU LOOK CLOSELY YOU CAN SEE THAT BENJIE IS GAINING SOME WEIGHT. HIS COAT IS A BIT RAGGED, BUT THAT WILL CHANGE AS HE GETS HEALTHIER.

I spent the whole morning at the police station. We called the vet because Benjie was not alright. We had to lie him down yesterday after Felipe's death. He was depressed, as the loss of his companion has affected him very much. This morning we had to struggle with him because he didn't want to get up. The vet came and gave him a shot. Now he's a bit better and eating and drinking water. I got home and my arms and whole body are sore from all the efforts to put him on his legs. I had to lie down myself for an hour and a half because I was about to collapse myself. The firefighters and the vet got worried because I am so bad for yesterday and I have so much on my shoulders with all these kids here. I know, this is the life I chose but sometimes I'm just tired and depressed mainly when things do not turn out as expected. I'm not complaining as I love all of these babies so very much. When I lose one it's like losing a member of my family. Thank God there are so many people out there who are helping with the cost to help these babies get their health back. Even the smallest donation brings hope to me and my dedicated helpers, and of course to the many babies that we care for. I send my sincere thanks to everyone who has helped Benjie and Nacha and to you Earle for always being there when I need you.