A new program will help local law enforcement care for abandoned animals

OKMULGEE, Okla. - Law enforcement officers all over Green Country deal with neglected and abandoned animals nearly every day.

A new state program called the Oklahoma Livestock Relief Coalition is accepting donations to help ease the burden of caring for them.

"I know people come here everyday, three, four, five, six people and say you know where there's any hay?  I say what does hay look like? I mean it's so scarce," said Jim Waller who owns the Preston Feed Store.

Waller says scarce hay means high prices, which means more animals going without.

"If they can't rake up enough money to feed them, then they turn them out and then the sheriff gets a call and they have to find a way to go pick them up," said Waller.

Last year Okmulgee County Sheriff's Deputies responded to 306 calls for loose, neglected and abandoned animals, it's a big burden on the department's resources and manpower.

That's why state and agricultural leaders decided to form the Oklahoma Livestock Relief Coalition.

"This is a resource that the Sheriff's Department can now go and be reimbursed for expenditures that would normally be out of pocket," said Sheriff Eddy Rice of the Okmulgee County Sheriff's Office.

The summer heat and drought has contributed to the hay shortage in Oklahoma, but that's only one reason these animals are being abandoned.

Another problem, is the low price of horses.

"A horse isn't going to bring in any money at all, if we're paying a sale barn to take care of this animal, then it's not going to be beneficial to the sheriff's department," said Rice.

Sheriff Rice says he's already filled out an application for aid through the relief coalition.

It's funded through donations, he's hopeful Okmulgee County will benefit from it.

"I'm waiting to see if we are able to get some of the money to reimburse our county," said Rice.

Waller's confident people will be willing to help the coalition.

"I think people will give money to help feed these horses but in the long run something has to be done," said Waller.

To donate to the Oklahoma Livestock Relief Coalition you can click here .