Horse neglect - 30 seized
Mitchell, OR (US)Incident Date: Tuesday, Jun 23, 2009
County: Wheeler
Charges: Misdemeanor
Disposition: Alleged
Case Images: 2 files available
Alleged: Robert Ashbaugh
Case Updates: 1 update(s) available
A new case of possible horse neglect results in the seizure of over 30 horses in Wheeler County, just outside of Mitchell.
Authorities working on the case said Wednesday it's the biggest and worst case of possible animal neglect in Wheeler County they've ever seen.
They say the suspected offender fed the horses once in awhile, but neglected them in every other way possible.
The protruding bones, tangled manes and curling hooves almost eight inches long are just a few results of the extreme horse neglect.
The sheriff's office seized 30 horses and two mules Tuesday on property allegedly owned by 45-year-old, Robert Ashbaugh of Mitchell, just off Highway 26.
"The horses' condition is bad, according to the vet," said Wheeler County Sheriff Bob Hudspeth. She graded them one to six - one being excellent, six being really poor. And the average of these fell between four and six."
According to officials, the horses weren't exactly starving. Even so, their living quarters took a toll on them.
A small pen fit to hold just a handful of horses held 25 colts and mares without shelter. A second pen held the mules, and a third the workhorse.
Police say the horses were probably given a small amount of molding hay once daily at best and had limited access to water.
"The water in the No. 1 site was dirty, and they had limited access to it, " said Hudspeth.
But why would one man have so many horses, without a use? As as far as Hudspeth can tell, that's a mystery.
"He doesn't ride them, he doesn't work them, they're not a pleasure horse," the sheriff said. "So in our estimation, it falls under hoarding."
Since the horses were seized, they've been taken to private property and authorities believe Ashbaugh has left the area. Should they find him, deputies say he faces charges of resisting arrest and about 30 counts of animal neglect.
The Wheeler County Sheriff's Office also says they are in need of help, in any way possible.
If you'd like to adopt a horse or help in any other way, you can call them at (866) 274-9231. Or you can send donations to the Wheeler County Sheriff's Office at P.O. Box 345, Fossil, OR, 97830.
Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Robert Ashbaugh also is asked to contact the sheriff's office.
Case UpdatesThe owner of 30 horses and two mules seized in June as part of an investigation into possible animal neglect now faces criminal charges.
The Wheeler County district attorney charged Robert Ashbaugh, 48, of Mitchell, Ore., with 12 counts of second degree animal neglect, a class B misdemeanor with a maximum penalty of 6 months jail and $2,500 fine.
The charges stem from animals seized during the execution of a search warrant in June after a month-long investigation by state police and county sheriff's deputies.
Thirty horses and two mules were seized after an on-site evaluation completed by an Oregon Department of Agriculture veterinarian found evidence of neglect. Lack of hoof care was a primary issue, police said, as well as the conditions the animals were being held in.
The horses and mules were seized and taken to an undisclosed location to receive proper care. OSP and the Wheeler County Sheriff's Office were assisted by Bureau of Land Management enforcement officers and the Oregon Department of Agriculture.
The Wheeler County Sheriff's Department is asking those who wish to donate for the care of these animals to call (866) 274-9231. | Source: KVAL - July 15, 2009
Update posted on Jul 16, 2009 - 9:48AM |
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