 RAVENSWOOD, W.Va. A dead horse has washed up in Judy Roberts' backyard, and the Jackson County woman is trying to find a way to get rid of the carcass, along with the stench.
| I guess we now know what happened to the Mohammad cartoon story... |
Roberts discovered the horse in the Ohio River on Friday.
| "Hmmm... What's that? Looks kinda like a dead horse." |
By Sunday, it had shifted onto her property.
| "Hmmm... What's that out by my vegetable garden?" |
"Somebody needs to move it," Roberts said.
| "Since I'm the property owner, I guess that'd be me." |
"It's contaminated the water."
| "It's bloated and reeking and covered with flies..." |
"And I shouldn't have to live like this."
| "I really should be the Queen of Denmark." |
She can only hope help comes quicker than in Harrison County, where earlier this month a rotting cow carcass was hung up on the tree for several weeks at the West Milford Dam while various government agencies debated whose responsibility it was to remove it.
| "Damn, Wilbur! How'd yew get that cow carcass up in thet thar tree?" |
The cow was hauled away last week through the combined efforts of the Division of Highways and the West Milford and Nutter Fort volunteer fire departments.
"How come we get the stinky end?"
"Shuddup. Both ends are stinky!" |
Roberts said she has called several agencies — even Gov. Joe Manchin's office — and either was told they couldn't help or she got no response.
| "Yes, ma'am. I'd recommend you get a shovel and start digging." |
Roberts said the smell from the horse has gotten so bad, she plans to stay in her home until the problem is resolved.
| "Not my problem. Somebody else has to take care of it. And I'm not coming out of my room until they do!" |
Manchin spokeswoman Lara Ramsburg said Tuesday night she hadn't heard about the horse.
| "I thought I smelled something, but I didn't know what it was." |
DNR spokesman Hoy Murphy said since the matter doesn't involve wildlife, his office won't get involved.
| "A horse ain't a wild animal, and even if it was, if it's dead it ain't wild life." |
A call to the Ravenswood Volunteer Fire Department went unanswered Tuesday night.
"It's her again, Archie!"
"Don't answer it, Bob."
"Thank Gawd for caller ID!" |
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