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Idaho: Dead horses dumped on public land

Disturbing news from southwestern Idaho this week:

Dead horses found dumped with brands cut off [link]
05:21 PM MST on Thursday, February 5, 2009
KTVB.COM with NewsChannel 7’s Ysabel Bilbao

Horse owners can't afford to feed them

BOISE - Someone is leaving domestic horses on public land, without a way for the animals to eat or survive.

The latest case involved 15 dead horses dumped on Bureau of Land Management property in Gem County in the past few weeks. BLM officials say the animals were found dead about six miles southwest of Emmett near County Line Road. The animals were found with the brand cut off the carcasses so their owner could not be identified.

Overall, the BLM says 32 horses have been left dead or let loose on public land across southwestern Idaho recently. A BLM law enforcement ranger speculated that increasing hay prices and decreased demand for horses have left owners unable to pay to feed the horses, and unable to sell them - so instead they are illegally releasing them on public land.

"It's kind of a hard time for some individuals... with the price of hay even though it's starting to go down," BLM Law Enforcement Ranger Lee Kliman said. "The economic times are harder, it's hard to sell horses, it's hard for a lot of individuals to find homes for horses."

The horses are domesticated and cannot fend for themselves in the wild.

Anyone found responsible could be charged on the federal level with unlawful commercial dumping, and on the state level with dumping of horses. The charges come with a $100,000 fine.

In the Gem County case, the Bureau of Land Management is working with the Gem County Sheriff's Office to determine who is responsible for the illegal dumping.

And just yesterday, someone was trying to convince me that there's no such thing as "unwanted horses" ... that there was no "hard data" ... so, what exactly are 15 carcasses, then?

Soapbox time.

Regardless of papers or performance, I hate to think of anyone breeding horses when thousands are being neglected and starved to death across the country because there are so many unwanted, or in many cases, well-loved but owners are simply unable to afford their care.

Why roll the genetic dice when you can pick up a great prospect -- in any breed, for any discipline, any age or color -- for pennies on the dollar compared to what they were valued at just a few years ago?

America's horse population has nearly doubled in 10 years to over 9 million and now with fuel and feed prices high and incomes low, there is a huge *need* for horse lovers to rescue and rehab rather than breed.

I'm XP, and I approve this message.

Michigan: Malnourished horse abandoned.

Too close for comfort, this story begins within an hour away, and ends just a few miles from home.

This story broke with a frantic plea for help on Craigslist:

I am in need of a caring person to give this horse a forever home. This is the story:

Two nights ago in the middle of the night I was woke up by my dogs barking and my little filly hollering. I ran outside to check on all my animals to make sure everything was ok, i just had a bad feeling ... what I found was disturbing.



It was a VERY, VERY skinny TB mare standing on the edge of the road eating grass, quiet as can be—just enjoying the food presented to her. After brain-storming and looking around the road, putting everything together I figured out she had just been dropped off like a stray dog and then when I found the halter laying on the edge of the road I really knew that she was literally just dropped off.



She is the most gentle, loving mare ever and seems to be sound and healthy, besides being very underweight. I am guessing she is in her mid to upper teens. She is great with one strand of hot wire and the other horses.



I would really love to keep her but I just don't feel like I can truly give her what she needs. She needs special grain and lots of groceries. Her feet are good and she has a upbeat personality. She is around 15.3 HH.

I am hoping I can find someone with the time and funding to bring her back and give her a chance ... if you're that special someone PLEASE contact me!!

Thanks you so much for taking the time to read this! Hope to hear from you ...

A fellow horse lover on a message board copied the post, and the ad submitter joined the board and shared additional information.

Over the course of several posts and replies, it was revealed that months earlier the horse had been rescued by the farm it was returned to, after having been adopted out to a "forever" home.

This is a picture of her before I re-homed her in June. I had her for 2-3 weeks. She has lost a lot of weight since then. I feel even worse for her now ... I originally obtained her because people couldn't feed her anymore; they were losing their house. I took her in, and re-homed her to ****. She was starved and dropped off at my house this weekend ...

It is assumed that the adopter could no longer care for the horse, and—not wishing her to die slowly of starvation or be dumped at auction with a good chance of leaving on a one-way trip to Canada—chose to leave her with the former owner under cover of night.

Another message board regular, after responding to the Craigslist ad along with dozens of other concerned horse lovers, stepped forward to take on the rehabilitation of this skinny mare. This story will most likely have a happy ending.


Now, what should happen next?

Some say the law should be alerted, that animal cruelty charges should be filed.

The horse could have been killed, or even worse, caused a fatal car accident involving innocent human lives as well.

However, I see another side to the issue.

I imagine these are the actions of someone desperate, rather than criminal-minded.

Dumping a horse by the road is a bad choice—no two ways about it—but there are worse fates awaiting horses that cannot be adequately cared for by their well-meaning owners or adopters.

I put it this way:
Better a baby in a basket on the porch,
than a baby in a dumpster.

I would hesitate to further punish the person who could no longer care for the horse and likely saw their actions as saving her life, because the next person who could no longer feed their horse could be scared away from leaving it somewhere it could be saved and may instead dump it at auction, in a remote area where it could be days or weeks before the horse gets care, or even keep it in a barn or remote field for weeks while it slowly starves, out of sight of those who could help.

But I see things differently than many.

Illinois: Doctor found guilty.

Anyone have details on this case? I find it hard to believe that horses walking through mud constitutes animal cruelty ... muddy spots can be found on most equestrian trails at state parks, and if that is cruelty we're all guilty.

Also, many horse owners feed large round bales of hay, and the outer layer of those not stored indoors may be moldy, but inside that "crust" of wasted hay is hundreds of pounds of good quality hay just like those who feed square bales give their horses.

Surely there is more to this story.

Doctor guilty of dozens of animal cruelty charges [link]
Associated Press | Sept. 21, 2008

CHARLESTON, IL—A Coles County judge has found a doctor guilty of dozens of misdemeanor animal cruelty charges stemming from the mistreatment of horses.

County animal officials testified the underfed horses on Ernest Rose's farm near Charleston had to slog through mud to find water and were fed only moldy hay.

Rose was charged in 2007 with nearly 200 misdemeanor offenses including violation of owner's duties, cruelty to animals and the improper disposal of dead animals.

Circuit Judge Mitchell Shick found Rose guilty of most of the charges. The judge said the 72 horses found on Rose's farm "were in distress for a number of weeks, if not months."

Defense attorney Michael Tague says he and Rose are disappointed in the ruling. Rose's sentencing is slated for November 21.

Will be watching for that outcome.

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.

Oregon: Rescued horse finds home.

Anyone from Oregon want to comment with the going price for a bale of hay?

Abused Horse Adopted [link]
Carolyn Carver | Sep. 19, 2008

One of four severely malnourished horses rescued about a month ago is now recovering with a new adopted family.

Five horses were originally rescued from a Central Point home by animal control toward the end of August.

One died of starvation almost immediately.

The Equamore Foundation in Ashland took in the other four horses.

The two mares and two stallions showed signs of starvation and their unkempt feet and manes showed long term neglect, the organizations volunteers said.

But with the costs of caring for horses going up, Sarah, the healthiest of the four horses was adopted by one of the organizations volunteers, Barbara Reel.

And taken home to finish the long road to recovery.

"She seemed to be so appreciative of the good care. it's hard to describe, I mean horses sometimes don't show a lot of emotion but she was definitely happy to be rescued," Reel said.

Now Sarah is living at an Eagle Point ranch with eight other horses.

But reel said she would like to know more about Sarah's history so that she help her recover the best she can.

Volunteers at the Equamore Foundation said the other three horses are still recovering and they are starting to feel more comfortable and confident around people.

I couldn't help but highlight how reporters think that an "unkempt mane" is a sign of neglect. I'd like to show one how I can have my horses' long, thick mane absolutely perfect one day, and he can have a mass of wind snarls (like dredlocks) the next. If they don't have bows and barrettes like a toy dog they're clearly abused?

Likewise, my horse is "definitely happy" to be covered from head to hoof in mud. I know this because if a drop of water from a hose touches him, he immediately goes and rolls in the only bare spot in the entire pasture.

New York: Seized horses returned.

SPCA cannot properly accommodate horses, but hold necessary paperwork hostage?

GRAND ISLAND: Sparks’ horses back at the Post [link]
After favorable ruling, Spark’s homecoming almost aborted

Niagara Gazette | September 19, 2008

In a matter of hours on Friday the Spark’s Trading Post gang went from uncertainty to exaltation interrupted by surprise followed by frustration back to the sheer joy of taking their seized horses and sheep home again.

“Nipper snickered as soon as he saw the trailer,” said Debbie Plumeri, who drove the big horse rig from Bedell Road on Grand Island to the SPCA facility on Ensminger Road to reclaim “their babies.”

“Our barn is complete again,” she said a few hours after the homecoming—that almost didn’t happen.

After easily loading the horses onto the trailer, SPCA officials said they would not release the results of blood tests/health screenings for the horses that are required before being transported.

“It could have delayed getting the horses to the ranch by days if not weeks,” said Patrick Wesp, attorney for Peter Sparks. “And we weren’t going to transport them illegally.”

A call to SPCA attorney Thomas Viksjo resolved the matter, however, advising the SPCA to release the results of the tests, which screen for an equine disease similar to HIV.

In addition to the return of his 12 horses and five sheep, Sparks is also off the hook for $10,000 in seizure and boarding costs accrued by the Erie County SPCA.

However, the criminal case against Sparks that he neglected the 17 animals — which were transported off his ranch Aug. 12 — continues.

Even so, Wesp expects the case to be dismissed because of what he said is the SPCA’s faulty search warrant. He says the violations listed on the warrant do not match what they cited to take the animals away.

According to Frentzel’s ruling, the horses were being returned to Sparks mainly because the Ensminger Road location “lacks the necessary facilities to accommodate 12 horses for an extended period of time.”

“Had the horses been stabled at other facilities or barns the courts’ opinion in this case may have been different,” he said.

Frentzel went on to authorize regular visits to Spark’s “to ascertain if the animals are receiving necessary food, water and shelter, including proper medical care.”

Most counties lack the facilities to accomodate horses ... animal control is primarily in the business of dogs, cats and other small household pets. Livestock should be governed by an agency familiar with agricultural norms and large animal husbandry practices. Most animal control officers have no experience with large animals, and in many cases of seizure—it shows.

POLL: Horses only for the rich?

I want you to view a brief YouTube video article from the Wall Street Journal, and then comment on this poll question:

Should horse ownership be a luxury limited to those persons with $100-400 a month in "expendable income" per horse?

Mississippi: Owner under attack.

Incredible. More ignorance. Hard luck, or hardened criminal? Watch the video.

Hungry Horses [link]
Cheryl Lasseter | Sep 17, 2008

Joseph Tucker of Church Road in Fannin admits his horses are hungry, but he says they're not starving. 3 On Your Side saw two of his horses Wednesday, and neither of them looked healthy.

"Any time they lose weight their ribs are gonna show," he told us.

Tucker says he doesn't have enough grass to keep them fat. He says he feeds them horse feed every day, but right now he can't provide enough grass because new development behind his property is eroding his land.

"There was a creek taking water all around me, now it's washing the property away," he says.

Tucker says an animal control officer came to his residence on Monday. He told the officer he was making plans to move the horses to a bigger pasture on Holly Bush Road next week. Tucker told the officer he had arranged for a veterinarian to visit his home Wednesday evening to assess the horses' health.

As we were talking, Tucker's son approached and advised his father not to speak to our news crew.

"They just want to show their side of the story," the son said. Tucker initially said he wanted to continue talking to us, then changed his mind.

We talked long enough to learn that Tucker has owned one of the horses for six months, long enough to breed a mare. Rankin County Animal Control tells us he owns three horses and one colt.

Animal Control says, while the horses may be eating, they shouldn't be as thin as they are. Animal Control is waiting to hear back from the veterinarian. If they don't hear back by Monday, September 22, the horses will probably be seized.

WHAT?! These horses are NOT malnourished, not even CLOSE to emaciated. Yes, they look to be a little underweight, but not in danger. Tucker's son was right to be concerned. The clearly horse-ignorant reporter was gunning for a sound byte, a slip, something to make the owner into a heartless abuser rather than the victim he seemed to be in this situation.

Cheryl, you made yourself look like a fool to all of us who know horses.

If Rankin County Animal Control chooses to seize these horses, there will be public outrage.





These two show a horse that is slightly under ideal weight, maybe. Hard to tell at this distance. But if it were malnourished, you would be able to see signs.




Another of the horses. Most of the video, he is in shadow, but you can see him walk and he also does not seem to be more than slightly underweight.

A third horse pictured, pinto or paint, was mainly obstructed by foliage and I didn't screencap the image, but you can see it in the video. Nothing said "malnourished" in any of the footage.



(Hey Cheryl, that's three horses, not two ... did you perhaps mistake one "dark colored" horse for another? I'd like to know what vet school you went to—what makes you qualified to deem a shiny, fed horse "unhealthy" from a distance?)

You bet I sent an email ... will keep you all posted on any responses.