Horse at Center of Cruelty Case Recovers, Finds Home

In March, Flora was rescued from a Dracut farm. The emaciated 30-year-old horse was rescued by the MSPCA-Nevins Farm in Methuen, and animal lovers rallied to donate and get her support to get healthy again.

After seven months of rehabilitation, the MSPCA is reporting that Flora has gained more than 300 pounds and has “completely transformed from a broken, disinterested animal in constant pain to a spry and stunning horse.”

Flora has found a loving caretaker, too. She’s been adopted by Allison Mankivsky of Westwood and she is set to arrive at her permanent home on Cerulean Farm in Millis on Wednesday.

Mankivsky’s family plans to welcome her with signs, carrots and apples.

When she was rescued, Flora was severely emaciated and her back was covered by a large and heavily infected wound.

Extensive medical care, coupled with endless encouragement and a careful refeeding program, slowly turned her around, so much so that by May she had been transferred to a foster home, from which she was adopted by Mankivsky and her family. Life, too, has been kind to the two other horses surrendered with Flora. “Duncan” was adopted by a family in Wenham and “Dewey” is in a foster home, awaiting permanent adoption, said the MSPCA.

The MSPCA’s Law Enforcement department filed seven counts of felony animal cruelty against Flora’s previous owner, Cathy Richardson of Dracut, in April. The case against Richardson is ongoing.