Colorado: Animal cruelty sentence.

I don't know anything about this case, but I know a horse that is sick can drop 50 lbs. within days. My own horse dropped over 100, probably closer to 200, within a week when he had what was suspected at the time to be Potomac Horse Fever. Even with daily vet care at a great expense—costing more than buying another horse would have, thanks to the depressed market.

My issue is not, did this person cruelly starve animals, but, does this case set a dangerous precedent where horses that are only 50, 75, 100 lbs. under ideal weight (which can happen during any common colic episode) should be seized and the owner jailed?

There are more factors to consider, more than one way to look at a story.

Woman Sentenced for Animal Cruelty
K Thornburgh | Jul 11, 2008

A Calhan woman has been sentenced for 24 counts of aggravated cruelty to animals.

Gina Johnston will serve five years of supervised probation, and six months in county jail followed by three months of in-home detention.

Johnston, who has a previous Cruelty to Animals conviction in 2004, was found guilty of not providing enough food and water for 19 horses in July of 2006, and six horses in June, 2007. The horses ranged from 50 to 175 pounds underweight. Several of the horses also suffered from lack of dental, hoof and grooming care.

In addition to her probation and jail-time, Johnston has to pay a $1,000 fine, take anger management classes, and individual counseling. Further, she cannot own an animal that weighs more than 150 pounds.

Comments

Posted by lasttrueheart01 on Jul 11, 2008
Although some may think this is her just reward for something they may think happened, all the facts aren't there. As far as people only getting a slap on the hand, take a drive down to Calhan Road South and look and the VERY thin horses there. The sheriffs office goes and talks to the man but nothing else. Or the abandoned horse that has been there for almost a year. People who live on or near that road throw hay to that horse and take him water. Officers say they can do no more then go talk to the man. Theres a slap in the hand.

Posted by anon on Jul 13, 2008
They shouldnt give her any food or water while she is in jail! Pig! Mark my words, she'll do this again.

Posted by Sean on Jul 15, 2008
This is becoming more and more of a bad argument that is subjected to many other opinions. Animal rights activists perceive mistreatment differently than others which leads to hasty decisions and some ambiguity. This lady; from what has been presented no doubts falls into the category of mistreatment and deserves the punishment set forth by the law. But, I have also been scalded by ‘yuppies’ for letting my dog drink out of a creek and not providing the proper “brand name” drinking water. I shoe and trim my own horses but am not certified, I don’t feed them certified hay, and I am not a ‘yuppie’ certified horse trainer looking for weekend work. However, people who do not think animals should be used for anything outside of pets and that they should be pampered with dog hotels and horse whispering and psychics really needs to get a grip. The problem is not what she has done as it is a crime—enforcing the law created by the people and designed without use of emotion.

Posted by Steve on Jul 15, 2008
I agree Sean. Urban sprawl and too many from California and Texas with big city mentality.

Horses will continue to be underfed in this economy, with the horse market in dire straights and owners finding themselves barely able to feed their human families yet unable to sell livestock or afford to feed them.