Outer Banks wild horse euthanized after her condition quickly deteriorated

Lizzie and Alex. [Courtesy Corolla Wild Horse Fund]

The Corolla Wild Horse Fund made the decision Friday to say goodby to Lizzie, a wild mustang pulled from the beach for a leg injury, after her condition quickly deteriorated last week.

Lizzie, mom to colt Alex born last year, had a wound on her knee that didn’t want to heal, but the CWHF team consulted with their vet and decided to give her a chance to stay in the wild while Alex was still very young.

“We monitored her closely through the summer and fall, knowing that the plan would be to remove her for treatment this summer once Alex was old enough to be weaned,” herd manager Meg Puckett said at the time.

That day came in June. After an emotional rescue that involved separating Lizzie and Alex, Lizzie was taken to the rescue farm in Grandy to be treated for a life-threatening fungal infection.

“Her condition deteriorated quickly at the end of last week, and on Friday it was clear that not only was the infection in her leg getting worse despite aggressive treatment, she was suffering physically and emotionally,” Puckett said in a Facebook post Monday morning.

“Lizzie lives on in her two offspring, Rabbit and Alex, and her influence on the herd and our hearts will never be forgotten. Rest free, sweet girl,” Puckett wrote.