Neglected horses and dogs removed from farm - Zuni, VA

Wednesday, Feb 11, 2009

County: Isle of Wight

Charges: Misdemeanor
Disposition: Convicted

Defendants/Suspects:
» Jeffrey Stuart Hansford
» Diana Bonney Hansford

Case Updates: 2 update(s) available

A couple faces 40 counts of animal cruelty following an investigation at their Zuni home.

Diana and Jeffrey Hansford were arrested Wednesday and are free on $10,000 bond.

Their arraignment is set for February 19.

30 horses and 55 Golden Retrievers were removed from their Meadows Quarter Horse Farm on Sand Pit Road on January 21.

Deputies from the Isle of Wight County sheriff's office, a state veterinarian, animal control officers and an equine rescue group oversaw the proceedings.

The animals are being cared for by several groups, including the Isle of Wight Humane Society, the Va. Beach SPCA, the Southern Golden Retriever Rescue in Va. Beach and the U.S. Equine Rescue League.

Case Updates

The Zuni couple who own a farm where horses and dogs were found in unhealthy conditions in January pleaded guilty to animal cruelty charges in Isle of Wight County General District Court. Jeffrey Stuart Hansford and Diana Bonney Hansford each pleaded guilty Thursday to two counts of depriving an animal of food or drink, a Class 1 misdemeanor. Prosecutors dropped 16 and 18 additional counts of the same charge against Jeffrey and Diana Hansford, respectively, and a misdemeanor charge against Jeffrey Hansford for operating a kennel without a license. The court forbade the Hansfords from owning more than five horses and five dogs at the same time. The couple were also ordered to pay $5,500 in restitution to Isle of Wight County for emergency care of the horses, and $15,000 to golden retriever rescue groups. Each animal cruelty charge carried a maximum punishment of up to 12 months in jail, and a fine of up to $2,500. Authorities removed 23 horses and 70 golden retrievers from the couple's Pine Meadows Quarter Horse farm, located on Sand Pit Road near Zuni, on Jan. 21 after receiving calls from concerned neighbors that the animals were living in squalid conditions and a dead horse was seen on the property. Animal rescue groups from Richmond to Hampton Roads have taken in the horses and golden retrievers, and are trying to bring them back to health. Members of the Richmond and Tidewater regions of the United State Equine Rescue League cared for the horses, while the group SEVA GRREAT â€" Southeastern Virginia Golden Retriever Rescue, Education and Training Inc. â€" has taken in an undisclosed number of golden retrievers from the farm.

Source: Tidewater News - April 4, 2009 Update posted on Apr 5, 2009 - 12:49AM

The owners of a Zuni farm where two dead horses and dozens of malnourished horses and dogs were found last month will be arraigned next week on animal cruelty charges. Jeffrey Stuart Hansford and Diana Bonney Hansford, both of 21259 Sand Pit Road, were arrested late Wednesday. Each was charged with 20 counts of animal cruelty, all misdemeanors that carry a maximum penalty of a $2,500 fine or up to one year in jail - or both. The husband and wife, each released on a $10,000 bond, are scheduled to appear in Isle of Wight General District Court at 8:30 a.m. Thursday. Of the 20 misdemeanors, 14 are related to 23 horses surrendered to an equine rescue group in late January. The six remaining charges stem from 70 golden retrievers - several of which have since delivered puppies - that rescuers removed from the property. Authorities visited Meadows Quarter Horse Farm - a large farm tucked a couple of miles off U.S. 460 - in January, after receiving reports of a dead horse in the pasture. When they arrived, investigators found the carcasses of two horses, as well as three dozen horses that appeared neglected and malnourished. Local U.S. Equine Rescue League volunteers - now fostering most of the horses - said the animals were skittish around people, several hundred pounds underweight and appeared to have received little recent veterinary care. Several rescue organizations stepped up to take custody of the 70 retrievers, many of which are being treated for heartworms or other medical problems. The Hansfords didn't have a kennel license, Isle of Wight Animal Control Chief Ed Sullivan said. Last year, according to the state court's Web site, Jeffrey Hansford pleaded guilty to one count of not having a kennel license. The Hansfords were allowed to keep 15 dogs and nine horses, Isle of Wight Commonwealth's Attorney Wayne Farmer said. Deputies have been making daily checks on the animals that remain in the Hansfords' care, Farmer said. The animals are also being monitored regularly by veterinarians, he said. "I'm convinced they are safe for right now," Farmer said. Authorities might seek to have those animals taken from the farm later, he said. The large number of animals involved in the rescue posed challenges for authorities, Farmer said. Removing and providing immediate care for the animals was costly and time-consuming for the county. "Thousands of dollars have been spent by the county ... and the organizations that responded," Farmer said. He intends to seek full restitution to compensate those agencies and groups, he said. The number of animals involved has also drawn out the time that it's taken his office to review evidence and file charges, he said. Over the past month, he has met several times with county authorities, local and state veterinary officials, and representatives from various animal rescue organizations to determine what charges are applicable. Farmer said he didn't think that he would have been able to meet the burden of proof to pursue felony charges. "This hasn't been done as quickly as some would have liked," Farmer said. "I've tried hard to make sure we've done this right ... and crossed our t's and dotted our i's. "One of my greatest concerns is to make sure this isn't allowed to happen again." The Hansfords are scheduled to appear in Isle of Wight General District Court at 8:30 a.m. Thursday.

Source: dailypress.com - Feb 13, 2009 Update posted on Feb 13, 2009 - 12:41PM

References

• WVEC.com - Feb 12, 2009

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