California: recovered mare to be sold.

Horse to find a new home, but in this economy, no one can guarantee she won't be back in poor condition again soon.

Neglected Horse Now Healthy, Ready For Adoption [link]
Horse Rescued by County Animal Control Officers in June; Owner Faces Charges
10news.com | Sep. 8, 2008

SAN DIEGO -- A mare found nearly starved to dead in Campo has been nursed back to health in the care of the County of San Diego Department of Animal Services and
is available for adoption.

“The ‘before and after’ pictures of the horse are extremely dramatic. All she needed was someone to care enough to feed her,” said John Carlson, Deputy Director for County Animal Services. “She is just a sweetheart, and there is no excuse for the treatment she received.”

Animal Control Officers went to a corral in Campo in June after receiving a report from the U.S. Border Patrol about a severely neglected horse and dead foal. The mare’s foal appeared to have been dead for some time. The horse had no water available and the hay in the corral was just out of the reach of the horse, according to officials with the San Diego County Department of Animal Services.

Department officials said criminal charges have been filed by the District Attorney’s Office against the owner, Derek Boyd, for animal neglect. He has been arraigned and a preliminary hearing is scheduled for October 21.

The horse was forfeited under the law. Animal Services is looking to place her into a loving home with someone who knows how to care for horses.

Applications and Sealed Bid forms are available at any County animal shelter or on the Animal Services website. Forms must be received by September 18.

The winning qualified bidder will be notified the following day.

So, once again, charges have been filed but this suspect has been found guilty until proven innocent as is so often the case in these stories. I'm not saying that the horse doesn't look 200% better now, just that it doesn't seem right to sell seized property before the judicial system we take so much pride in has a chance to be put into play.