Horse neglect
Boulder, CO (US)Incident Date: Wednesday, Feb 28, 2007
County: Boulder
Disposition: Not Charged
Person of Interest: Mike Murphy
Case Updates: 1 update(s) available
Two horse breeders in Boulder County admit they've trespassed to help a group of horses they say are in pain and suffering. Boulder County Animal Control has been investigating the case for more than a year.
"There's no way on God's green Earth that any animal should be abused to this point," said Mike Woods a horse breeder.
Woods and fellow horse breeder Julie Hillyard believe the animals are starving to death. They brought $700 worth of hay from Silverthorne to feed the animals and trespassed on horse owner Mike Murphy's property to do it.
Woods and Hillyard accuse animal control of dropping the ball on the case.
Boulder County authorities said sheriff's deputies have visited the property 17 times in the last year and arranged for veterinary care. Murphy has also been charged with 19 counts of improper care of animals.
"And in this circumstance, the animal control specialist felt the situation arose to the level of improper care, for which he was cited, but did not meet the statutory obligation of animal cruelty which authorizes us to seize the animals," said Cmdr. Phil West of the Boulder County Sheriff's Department.
Murphy has been on probation for 6 weeks.
Woods and Hillyard said during that time, the animals have gotten worse.
Murphy told CBS4 by phone that he has been feeding the horses once a day and believes they are in good condition. He said some of the animals are even overweight.
Animal control planned to visit the property Thursday. If Murphy is found to be in violat
Case UpdatesBoulder County Animal Control said Thursday that allegations of a horse owner starving his animals simply aren't true.
Some horse breeders told CBS4 earlier this week that the horses were in danger of dying. The breeders actually trespassed on Murphy's land to feed the animals.
Representatives from the Boulder County Sheriff's Office, the State Veterinarian's Office and Colorado Horse Rescue inspected the horses on Thursday.
The experts said the animals' conditions have improved.
"If Mr. Murphy can't keep up with taking care of his horses, then they will go down hill again and we will keep inspecting them and if they do go down hill, we will seize them," said Brandy Perkins of Boulder County Animal Control.
Courts ordered Murphy to find new homes for five of his horses. He said he is working to comply. | Source: CBS Denver - March 23, 2007
Update posted on Mar 23, 2007 - 11:34PM |
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