Governor's Horse Guard Honored By State

Connecticut has the oldest cavalry units in the country, that have been in continuous service. And one of the units is being honored tomorrow for taking care of animals seized in an animal cruelty case. WNPR’s Nancy Cohen reports.

 

Connecticut’s Department of Agriculture will present a certificate of appreciation to the Governor’s Horse Guard, Second Company. From January through April members of the Guard volunteered their time to feed and groom two mules and two horses, seized by the state.

 

When animals are neglected, not fed and not cared for properly the state’s Animal Control Division can seize them and file legal charges against the owner. In two back-to-back cases this winter the Division seized 19 horses and mules, but didn’t have enough space to board  all of them. That’s when the Governor’s Horse Guard, Second Company, stepped in. State workers took care of the animals during the week. Members of the Horse Guard, volunteered over weekends.

 

Ray Connors of the animal control division said the state is careful about where it boards animals taken in cruelty cases.

 

“Because the animals are seized as evidence it’s easier for us to keep control of the evidence if they’re kept in some type of state facility.”

 

The Governor’s Horse Guard acts as an honor guard in parades and when the Governor is sworn into office. The first and second companies were established back in the 17 and 1800s. During budget negotiations last year lawmakers considered and then decided against cutting the Horse Guard’s budget.

 

For WNPR, I’m Nancy Cohen.