Oklahoma: Horses seized, 'appeared' malnourished.

Another reason to keep your horses where they can't be seen from the road? My horse could "appear" to be malnourished, the way he will reach as far as he can under the fence for the greener grass on the other side. I mean, if authorities don't have equine training, how do they know it doesn't mean he's starving?!

Horses seized in northeast Norman [link]
Tom Blakey | Sep. 19, 2008

Norman animal welfare officers, with the assistance of Norman police, Friday served a search warrant at 14400 E. Bethel Road in far northeast Norman, and seized eight horses and one dog from a man already facing six felony counts of animal cruelty.

Norman Police Capt. Leonard Judy said animal welfare officers earlier in the week observed and photographed from the road horses that "appeared to them to be malnourished" and contacted investigators.

To better evaluate the horses and look for other animals in possible need of care, officials drafted and presented a search warrant to court officials, and a district court judge Thursday signed the warrant, Judy said.

"Police and animal welfare officers served the search warrant Friday morning, and in the course of serving the warrant, seized eight horses and one dog that, in the opinion of animal control officers, appeared to be in poor condition or were being kept in poor conditions and without what they needed for their health and welfare," Judy said.

A return on the warrant will be filed in Cleveland County District Court, citing what was found on the property, and it will be up to the district attorney to decide whether to file animal cruelty charges, Judy said.

"The welfare of the animals is our main concern," he said.

No arrests were made at the scene, Judy said.

Norman resident Leslie Paul Lambeth, 71, is facing six counts of cruelty to animals, after police and animal welfare officers went to the same property March 25 and reported finding 27 horses in various stages of malnutrition. Four dogs also were taken into custody at the time, officials said.

The animals were returned to Lambeth in April, following a motion filed in civil court and subsequent hearing. The court ruled it was proper for the animals to be returned under certain conditions, put in place to ensure their care and welfare, city officials said. The parties were required to agree on conditions pertaining to the animals' care and supervision.

According to the previously filed charges, Lambeth failed to provide necessary food and/or water and/or veterinary care for a 21-year-old mare, a 1-year-old mare, a 4-year-old mare, a 2-year-old paint horse, a 15-year-old Arab horse and a 2-year-old Rottweiler dog.

The animals seized Friday were being kept at a secure location where they were receiving veterinary evaluation and care, police said.

Lambeth's preliminary hearing on the previously filed charges has been continued to 9 a.m. Oct. 27 before Special Judge Rod Ring. Lambeth is being represented by attorney Fred Shaeffer. Prosecuting the case is City Attorney Brian D. Hall.

Will see if I can find something on the March charges involving 5 horses out of 27.