74 SIDELINES OCTOBER 2012
FOR HORSE PEOPLE • ABOUT HORSE PEOPLE
Lost and Found: Debi Metcalfe and Idaho – the theft of Idaho
was the catalyst behind the formation of NetPosse.
Photo by Sean Lyon
has been taken,” said Debi. “Of course, we realize it’s a horse, not
a child; but it’s a horrible feeling – that a creature you know, love
and care for has been stolen out of the safety of your pasture. You
feel violated, your life has been changed and you never really get
over it. What you have to do is take it and turn it into a positive
thing.”
That can mean wanting to confront the person who burgled
your horse or pony, but that isn’t always possible. Debi and her
crew consult with victims, direct the actions they take and calm
them down when necessary. There are certain steps to follow. It’s
important to know the different kinds of thefts and that the legal
system is not perfect.
“When the tip on Opie came in, Michelle had moved four times
and basic searches on the Internet didn’t work,” said Debi. “Part of
our network includes people in law enforcement, some of them are
on our advisory board and all sorts of people always come through
in a pinch. A private investigator in Florida located Michelle so that
I was able to call and tell her that we found Opie. We’ve been
doing this a long time and there’s a difference between criminal
and civil theft. I double checked and I got all the pieces and put
them in a box and gave them to law enforcement.”
Debi also contacted the Texas Ranger who had been assigned
to the case. The background she offered piqued his interest. He
went with a Dayton County Sheriff’s Department Deputy to the
address where Opie was living and they seized the horse. “It was
a real pleasure to work with Jimmy Belt and Missy Watson – they
went that night and called me at 2 a.m. to let me know that they
had Opie on the trailer,” recalled Debi. “Then I felt sad because
the woman who had Opie for sale – her intentions were pure, she
wanted to fnd a good home for the horse – she was a victim, too.
She didn’t expect someone to knock on her door in the middle
of the night and take that horse away from her. I’m in the middle
and see both sides. These recoveries are bittersweet. I’ve never
forgotten that I took Idaho away from a 10 year old child. It’s a
heartbreaker for both sides and it’s a hard thing to do; but it’s the
right thing, to restore the stolen horse to the owner.”
Debi – the voice behind NetPosse. Approximately 42-52% of
the horses reported missing annually have been found through
NetPosse.
Photo by Michelle Gordon
The reunion of Opie and Michelle was videotaped. It’s on the
website, along with press coverage of the miracle recovery.
NetPosse works because of thousands of volunteers from
every socio-economic background and career. In addition to law
enforcement, there are people from news media, agricultural
communities, urban, suburban – essentially, anyone who wants to
get involved. Their commitment puts meaning into Debi’s favorite
saying: never underestimate the power of one.
The website has all sorts of resources. You can register
your horse in the NetPosse Identifcation Program (NIP) and
learn about microchips, freeze brands, lip tattoos, etc. There’s
information about microchipping your own horse. You can
download informative PDFs. “Quick Horse Theft Prevention Tips”
offers an incredible list of ways to safeguard your animals, your
tack and your home – worth reading whether you live in rural or
urban circumstances for the clever security tips. “What do I do
Now? Search and Recovery Action Plan” maps out from start to
fnish what to do, how to document and keep records in case you
get your day in court, and much more.
One of the testimonials to Debi on NetPosse states: “Not many
people have the fortitude that it takes to do what you have done…
Law Enforcement agencies all over the world are now turning to
you to get information on stolen horses, trailers, saddles and…
You have become, Debi, the NCIC of stolen horses and are well
on your way, with your Micro-Chip I.D. program, to being the DMV
of the horse world as well.”
By the way, Idaho is now 27, living the good life with the
Metcalfes.
“My offce window faces the pasture where she is everyday,”
said Debi. “I still have all the same horses, I still look out in the
morning to make sure they’re all there, especially the mostly white
one. Getting Opie back started with our miracle. We do it because
we love horses.”
Visit www.netposse.com to learn more about the organization.