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Case Snapshot

Case ID: 18199

Classification: Hoarding

Animal: horse

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Attorneys/Judges

Judge(s):

John Putman

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Several dogs, cats, horses rescued from repeat offender
Calico Rock, AR (US)

Incident Date: Thursday, Jun 30, 2011
County: Baxter

Charges: Misdemeanor, Felony CTA
Disposition: Alleged
Case Images: 6 files available

Alleged:
» Roy Charles Parker
» Brenda Lou Parker

Case Updates: 2 update(s) available

"This horse is the next candidate to go down. I'm surprised he's not down right now," said Gainesville, Mo., veterinarian Dr. Bob Main on Friday as he looked at a dark-brown, 4-year-old male horse that was little more than skin and bones.

The horse was one of 10 Main was evaluating after they were seized from a home on Baxter County Road 213 late Thursday night from the home of Roy Charles Parker, 38, and his 51-year-old wife, Brenda Lou Parker.

The Baxter County Sheriff's Office received a complaint at 4 p.m. on Thursday of several dogs, cats and some horses that were not receiving proper care at a home in rural Calico Rock off State Highway 177.

Sgt. Ken Grayham and sheriff's investigator Drayton McDaniel found several dogs and cats running loose and 10 horses that appeared to be in very bad condition, Baxter County Sheriff John Montgomery said at the scene.

The horses had no food, two horses had a small amount of water and authorities could not find any running water on the property.

Concerned the horses needed water immediately, the sheriff's office contacted Rodney Volunteer Fire Department. Firefighters brought a tanker truck and pumper truck and soon began filling several large tubs with cool water.

Search warrant

Meanwhile, sheriff's office investigators took cell phone pictures of the starving horses and began writing an affidavit for a search warrant.

Mountain Home District Court Judge Van Gearhart read the affidavit, looked at the photos, and signed the warrant.

Warrant in hand, investigators seized the horses and began collecting evidence at approximately 7:55 p.m.

The horses were kept in five separate corrals, none of which had any visible food in them. Horses could be seen stretching their necks in an attempt to reach tree leaves.

A truck and horse trailer eventually rumbled down the 2.7 miles of dirt road to reach the Parker residence and workers began loading horses.

"It's sad to see the condition of these horses," Montgomery said as he watched the evidence collection process. "It's even worse when it appears the Parkers did not have the ability to properly care for these horses."

During the course of the investigation, authorities learned that Roy Charles Parker was charged with animal cruelty in Izard County approximately two years ago, Montgomery said as he watched horses being loaded on the trailer.

The last horse to be loaded was an emaciated palomino mare. The horse was skittish and would not stand still as workers attempted to put a halter on her.

She was eventually trapped in a small area and collapsed. The halter was placed on her, and workers attempted to coax her up, but she stayed down and went limp, her quick, shallow breathing accentuated by her highly visible rib cage.

It took workers 15 minutes to get the mare back on her feet. She was led to the trailer at approximately 10:50 p.m.

Workers had to place her front hooves on the trailer. She then collapsed again and was lifted into the trailer for the journey to the Double S Oaks Ranch, owned by Sandy Rand.

Night vigil

Rand and colleague Coleen Wall were waiting as the horses arrived around midnight. They were separated according to medical need and temperament.

The palomino mare was given a stall to herself, and veterinary Dr. Anne Gamble was called as Rand and Wall feared the horse might not survive the night without immediate medical attention.

Gamble arrived around 1 a.m. Friday morning and assessed the mare. Gamble gave the mare three shots and began giving it intravenous fluids.

Once Gamble left, Rand and Wall sat a vigil with the mare, talking softly to her, giving handfuls of grain and soothing words of comfort. As dawn approached, the mare began to nicker and paw at the ground, signs the horse was improving, Rand says.

Main spent Friday afternoon evaluating the condition of the 10 horses, a process Montgomery says is critical when the information regarding the case is given to the prosecutor's office.

The sheriff praised Rodney Volunteer Fire Department for its quick response to the incident. Montgomery also thanked Desiree Bender, Arkansas State Director for The Humane Society of the United States, for her work to arrange transportation and care for the horses.

"We are always willing to help law enforcement when they find animals in distress," Bender said. "We are particularly happy to help sheriff Montgomery, who has been a great partner in the apprehension and prosecution of those who harm animals."

Sheriff Montgomery says since their seizure, each of the horses has been intensively examined by a licensed veterinarian, utilizing the "Henneke Horse Body Condition Scoring System" to determine the approximate health and overall condition of each horse.

He says this system, developed by Don Henneke, PhD while at Texas University, utilizes a standardized scoring system for assessing the body condition of horses.

The grading scale ranges from 1 - 9, with a condition of "1" being the worst.

Of the ten horses examined, four of the horses were rated as a "1", with the highest rating given to any of the remaining six horses being a "3".

On Friday, July 8, deputies arrested 38-year-old Roy Charles Parker and his wife, 51-year-old Brenda Lou Parker. Each are charged with four counts of aggravated cruelty to animals (Class D felonies) and six counts of cruelty to animals (Class A misdemeanors). Bond was set at $10,000 for each. The couple is due in Baxter County Circuit Court on July 19.

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