A 20-year-old partially blind horse who was found shot with a paint gun nearly 130 times is on the road to recovery.
The Arabian cross appaloosa, now named Lily, was rescued on 14 March in Pennsylvania, North America.
Animal cruelty officers at Lancaster County SPCA were called out by the management of the New Holland Sales Stable when Lily was found left on the premises after a livestock sale.
The grey mare was underweight, blind in the right eye and had been shot with a paint gun nearly 130 times.
SPCA officials said Lily had a low body condition and was sore to the touch.
After being treated by a vet, she was taken to New Bolton Centre by Omega Horse Rescue.
The centre is the large animal hospital at the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Veterinary Medicine.
She underwent an operation on 18 March to remove her right eye and to treat an ulcer in her left eye.
“We decided to remove [her] right eye because it was going to be a chronic long-term disease for her,” said veterinary surgeon Dr. Nikki Scherrer.
“The eye was permanently blind and no use to her, this way we make sure that she won’t be in pain.”
On 22 March her head bandage was removed and she looking “bright”.
The Lancaster SPCA has put out an appeal for anyone who has any information about the horse or her owners on its Facebook site.
No identification on the horse could be found when she was rescued.
