By Maria Hickey, KWMU
St. Louis, MO. – The 25 horses and one mule that survived a trailer accident on their way to the slaughter house are NOT yet up for adoption but they can be sponsored.
Visitors can see the horses' pictures and check their progress on the Humane Society of Missouri's website. And they can sponsor a horse for $25 or more.
Eighteen horses are still at veterinary facilities with three in critical condition. Eight horses are at the Longmeadow Rescue Ranch near Union.
Ranch director Earlene Cole says the horses are friendly despite the trauma they've experienced.
"We have one here; Freedom is his name," Cole said. "He has to have his legs bandaged and we have to change his bandages every day, scrub down the wounds and medicate them and then re-wrap them. And he's such a trooper, he's only four years old and he stands there so good for us. He's just a great little horse."
Cole says the veterinary bills are up to $40,000 so far.
She says the Humane Society of Missouri is working with an insurance company to gain ownership of the horses.
More information: Horse adoption website