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Merlin is an "American Paint" horse who was brought from Martha's Vineyard to Nevins Farm in Methuen in December 2021, the MSCPA said.
Merlin's owner, Laura Bernard-Maciel, lost custody of the horse after she was charged with animal cruelty and refused cover the costs of Merlin's care over the duration of the trial, the MSPCA said.
Staffers at Nevins Farm said Merlin was malnourished and suffering from excruciating mouth pain because his teeth were not properly maintained when they took the horse in.
“When Merlin came to us, he weighed just 850 pounds, which may sound like a lot but it’s very underweight for a horse of his size,” said Rachel Diersen, equine and farm animal supervisor at Nevins Farm. “The issues with his mouth were so bad that he couldn’t even eat solid food, so we had to put him on a special diet.”
Since then, Merlin has gotten close to 1,100 pounds and is "much healthier," according to Dierson. “He’s really made remarkable strides over the past 11 months.”
Not only will December mark one year of Merlin being under the MSPCA's care, it will bring the horse's 34th birthday. Therefore, staff are looking for a special adopter to take Merlin in and give him the proper care he deserves.
“We’re looking for adopters who understand how to care for senior horses and the extra management they require,” Dierson said. “His days of enjoying rides with humans may be over, but he will still be a great companion in the right home.”
Those interested in adopting Merlin can do so by clicking here.
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