Texas County ranch is haven for large animals

In the name of well-being or even survival, domestic animals, livestock and even wildlife are sometimes in need of human assistance or intervention.

Those animals are sometimes quite large, which means the humans doing the assisting must be properly equipped to handle the task. There’s an organization in Texas County that fits that description: Ashley Creek Large Animal and Wildlife Rescue and Sanctuary.

Animals taken in at Ashley Creek come from a variety of sources for a variety of reasons, and some are transported significant distances.

The operation was founded 18 years ago by Susan Seago and her long time business partner Rebecca Wilson, and is located in the Ashley Creek area east of Raymondville (close to the Dent County border a few miles from Montauk State Park) on the 600-acre property owned by Seago and her husband, Gary. Since the rescue’s inception, many species of animals have been taken in and cared for, including numerous horses and other equines – close to 50 in the past five years.

“Local veterinarians call, animal shelters call and other people call,” Seago said. “It’s a bunch of different scenarios. We’ve been doing this a lot of years and we’ve seen a lot of things.”

A Tennessee native, Seago is a former veterinary technician has been raising horses for more than 40 years, and Wilson has been in home health care for 13 years. Their pasts have provided experience to both women that has proven valuable in the present.

“Having all the facilities for our horse business gives us a leg up and takes care of all the problems that come with having a place to put a large animal,” Seago said. “And we’re here all the time taking care of our own horses and animals, and we have the knowledge because we’ve done it so long, taking in a few more isn’t really a strain.

“We’re always here taking care of animals; that’s what we do.”

“And a lot of what you do in nursing does overlap into animals,” Wilson said, “because wound care and daily care are very similar. With large animals, you’re just doing it on a larger scale.”

One of only two large animal rescues in Missouri, Ashley Creek obtained 501(C)(3) status last November, and works closely with all law enforcement agencies, the Humane Society, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) and private citizens.

“We provide a good caring environment for all large animals, whether rescued or placed with us due to their owners not being able to care for them,” Seago said. 

While the rescue is not equipped with kennels, Seago and Wilson have been helping fill the gap left by the closure of multiple animal shelters in Texas County by expanding their focus a bit beyond large animals. They’re glad to help people who need to move dogs or cats to “rehome” them as fast as possible.

“Because we have so many goats, fowl, pigs and small horses here and, of course, their babies, everything here needs to be farm-friendly and we can’t have dogs running around,” Seago said. “But we have kept a roster of people who maybe need to do something with a dog or cat, and people who want dogs or cats, and we try to hook them up.”

“We’ve had seven dogs cross our path so far this year and we’ve been able to rehome all of them,” Wilson said. “We’re trying to help.”

In addition to working with animals, Seago and Wilson like to also work with and educate people whenever and however possible.

“Sometimes if you teach somebody something, they become better owners,” Wilson said. “Sometimes teaching is the best intervention.”

Ashley Creek Rescue utilizes the services of long-time Texas County large animal veterinarian, Dr. B.C. “Bernie” Taylor.

“He has been so great to work with,” Seago said. “We have the very best large animal doctor to insure our animals receive the best healthcare possible during their stay with us. This also gives the people adopting our animals peace of mind knowing they’re getting a healthy animal.”

In April, Seago and Wilson will attend a class on how to handle raptors and later this year should be certified and equipped to begin taking in the predatory birds.

“We’re going to build a flight pen for them,” Seago said.

{{tncms-inline alignment=”right” content=”<p>•Susan Seago – founder</p> <p>•Rebecca Wilson – co-founder</p> <p>•David Freeman – co-founder</p> <p>•Gary Seago – transporter, heavy equipment operator</p> <p>•Aaron Wilson – foreman</p> <p>•Ricky Barton – lawn maintenance</p> <p>•Nathan Freeman – stable hand</p> <p>•Tyler Seago – ferrier</p> <p>•Dr. B.C. Taylor – veterinarian</p>” id=”aff7bf6c-bc9e-4207-a3b3-4f74251c8883″ style-type=”bio” title=”The people of Ashley Creek large Animal and Wildlife Rescue and Sanctuary” type=”relcontent”}}

“The Missouri Department of Conservation says there’s a big need for that,” Wilson said.

Seago said that while she and her cohorts are willing to take in as many animals as possible, what’s possible has a limit.

“We can’t just have an animal dump; we have to take it according to what our resources will allow us to manage,” Seago said. “We have the place and the people here, and it’s our passion and privilege to use our resources to save as many large animals and wildlife as possible.

“But another thing we do is find other places where animals can go.”

Despite all their efforts, Seago and Wilson understand they can’t win the war, so to speak, but only some of the battles. They face a constant battle against horses being slaughtered for profit, many of which are illegally transported to Mexico.

“We could take those in every day of the week and never run out,” Seago said. “It’s a terrible plight – they’re everywhere.”

Most of the animals adopted from Ashley Creek end up living within a radius of about 100 miles from the facility, but some have been transported much farther away. When someone decides to adopt, they’re provided as much of the animal’s history as possible.

“Our goal is to see that all our animals are located with caring people and never undergo abuse again,” Seago said. “The big thing is to find the right match. It’s best to find someone who can manage it depending on what its needs are, what its training is and that kind of thing.

“If an animal ends up where it’s too much for somebody, it’s going to be right back in trouble. But if you get a good match, it will have a home.”

Ashley Creek will even gather unwanted bee swarms. The bottom line is, there’s no shortage of work to be done and likely never will be.

“We really enjoy what we do, and we both have trouble saying ‘no’ when there’s an animal in need,” Wilson said.

“But we know you can’t save them all,” Seago said.

“But you can try,” Wilson said.

Detailed information about Ashley Creek Large Animal and Wildlife Rescue and Sanctuary can be found on the organization’s website and Facebook page. Phone numbers include 573-548-0219 (office) and 573-201-5901 (Rebecca Wilson).

•Susan Seago – founder

•Rebecca Wilson – co-founder

•David Freeman – co-founder

•Gary Seago – transporter, heavy equipment operator

•Aaron Wilson – foreman

•Ricky Barton – lawn maintenance

•Nathan Freeman – stable hand

•Tyler Seago – ferrier

•Dr. B.C. Taylor – veterinarian