On yesterday’s news was the most horrid story about an attempted horsenapping in Abbeville, SC. Apparently the thieves have struck before in the area, but this time, they tried to steal a couple of foals named Abercrombie and Fitch.

Abercrombie was found by his owner running loose on the farm, frightened but unhurt. But Fitch lay far down the driveway, almost unresponsive.

According to the owner, Fitch hated being led on a rope, so he had learned to just lie down whenever somebody tried to lead him anywhere. When he did that to the thieves, they dragged him 150 yards, leaving a trail of fur and blood on the concrete, and then left him to die.

The local vet said Fitch had numerous cuts and bruises, broken teeth, and a hernia where his ribs had been separated by the trauma, and he was suffering from severe shock. The owners hoped he could be saved, but despite all efforts, Fitch died last night.

The saddest part of this story is the fact that it took place on a rescue farm. Both foals had just recently been saved from slaughter and were finally encountering humans they could trust.

It’s just beyond me that anyone could go in there and brutalize such fragile, vulnerable creatures.

And now we’re concerned about the safety of our own horses. We’ve already had two baby goats and a full-grown Great Pyrenees stolen from our pasture in the past couple of years, in spite of locks on the gates.

According to the story in the local paper, thieves can take a horse to auction and get $200 or $300 for it. Often the horses are bought and slaughtered for their meat or skins.

Check out the rescue group’s website if you want a better idea of what they’re fighting. The horses in the auction photos and adoptions page aren’t old nags fit for the “glue factory.” These are young, beautiful animals, many of whom just aren’t wanted anymore.

I’m not trying to wheedle donations out of anyone, but I do want people to be aware of the problem represented when they hear a story like Fitch’s on the news.

The cruelty people are capable of towards each other is rampant enough. But I think people feel less guilt when they direct their anger and abuse towards an animal. I saw and heard of some truly terrible things done to animals during my years at the animal clinic.

Cats and kittens used as bait to teach fighting dogs to attack. Dogs left on a 4-foot chain for days with no shade or water in a Carolina summer. And other things so cruel and perverse that I can’t even bring myself to talk about them.

I even read a few years ago of a BATF raid on a home where the agents were frustrated that their information was wrong, so they kicked the family cat to death in front of the children.

I’m not “way out there” on animal rights. I eat meat. I know that animals aren’t people. But they are God’s creatures, and when we abuse, terrorize, and butcher them for no good reason, I’m pretty sure it makes Him angry.

Looking at my own cats, dog, and livestock, I’m always amazed by the individuality He gives them. Their appearances, their personalities, how they respond differently to different people — I can see why some folks forget they’re not human!

The difference is that most animals have to be trained, taught, and tortured to be mean. Human beings seem to manage it just fine all on their own.