Community Corner
Pony's Death Sparks Generosity
The killing of young girl's pet brings out the kindness of strangers, who give her a new pony and a saddle.
The owner of a stable near Cranberry has helped to salve the grief of a little girl whose pony was shot and killed last week -- sparking outrage around the region -- by donating another pony to the child.
Leslie Staschak, of Crimson Stables in Mars, gave a pony named Bo to Haylie Achhammer, 6, on Wednesday after learning that the Westmoreland County girl's beloved animal, Midnight, had been shot in the head Dec. 23.
Although she did not know the family, Staschak said she felt compelled to do something for the child.
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"All it took was that moment when I saw Haylie on the news and I knew I had to do something for her," said Staschak, who owns several horses and describes herself as a "horse addict.
"Owning a horse can bring a family together. When I heard Haylie say that it was the worst day of her life when Midnight was shot, I was overcome," said Staschak, who lives in Fox Chapel.
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"No 6-year-old should have a worst day of her life. I was so tickled I could help these wonderful people."
Last Thursday, after an evening spent looking at Christmas light , Haylie and her mother, Paula Achhammer, returned to their home to find Haylie's pony dead.
The Achhammer family didn't know who killed the pony or why it was killed but was concerned about how Haylie would deal with the loss of her beloved pony.
Haylie and her mother accepted the gift with gratitude.
"It was so devastating but with everything going on, now Haylie is so excited. She can't wait to get back into the field, back with her new horse, back to normal," Achhammer said.
In another act of kindness, Theresa Lang of Shady Acres Saddlery near Fox Chapel and her son donated a saddle to Haylie.
While the Achhammers are thankful, they still want to know who killed Midnight.
The killing is the third random shooting of animals on Greensburg-area farms in recent months. Police are not saying if those shootings are related to the slaying of the Achhammers' pony.
Anyone with information on the pony's shooting is asked to call state police at 724-832-3288.
