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Malnourished horses seized
Greenfield Center, NY (US)Incident Date: Thursday, Oct 6, 2011
County: Saratoga
Charges: Misdemeanor
Disposition: Alleged
Case Images: 4 files available
Alleged: Ann Arnold
Case Updates: 1 update(s) available
A Saratoga County woman was charged Thursday with 19 counts of animal cruelty, and 14 of her horses have been transported to the Catskill Animal Sanctuary in Ulster County where they are receiving urgent care.
Officials say after a month-long investigation by the State Police and SPCA Ann Arnold was arrested Thursday morning. The sanctuary says she voluntarily surrendered the horses on Oct. 6.
"They didn't look good. They all have problems," said Cathy Cloutier, executive director of SPCA of Upstate New York, whose organization conducted a joint investigation with State Police that began in late September.
Ann Arnold of Wilton Road, who faces the misdemeanor charges, voluntarily surrendered the horses, admitting she could not financially or physically care for them, according to police.
The 14 horses were removed earlier this month and nine others currently remain at the premises.
Of the 23 horses in all, 19 fell to a level of neglect, police said, and many were described as being "
Founder Kathy Stevens says many of them are in quarantine, as many of the horses were anemic, meaning their bodies were filled with parasites. Some of the horses were as much as 400 lbs. underweight, and suffering from a skin fungus known as "rain rot" that results from prolonged lack of shelter during wet weather.
All of the horses are on the path to recovery, though one may be suffering from a life-threatenign hoof condition.
"We've been doing this for 10 years and this is one of the more disturbing cases that I have seen," Stevens said.
The latest additions bring to 40 the number of horses at Catskill Animal Sanctuary, in addition to a variety of pigs, cows, rabbits and turkeys rescued from cruelty and neglect.
Stevens said care for the 14 horses will cost $5,000 to $7,000 per month. The sanctuary's goal will be to bring the animals back to good health, which is expected to take two to four months, then place them in loving homes. The group has issued an appeal for financial support via its website at: , Facebook pages, and together, we'll celebrate broken bodies and spirits made whole. We invite you to make a The CAS recorded video of the situation, click here to view the video, which may be disturbing to some viewers.
Case UpdatesA March trial is scheduled for the Greenfield Center woman who faces 19 animal cruelty charges for allegedly failing to provide her horses with adequate food and shelter.
Authorities said some horses were subjected to prolonged and profound starvation and were up to 400 pounds underweight. Many suffered from "rain rot," the result of being exposed to prolonged wet conditions without proper shelter.
Ann Arnold pleaded not guilty in Greenfield Town Court on Nov. 1, but was subsequently charged again - on Nov. 30 - with creating a criminal nuisance after horses got loose from her Wilton Road farm.
Town Justice Michael Ginley on Tuesday scheduled a trial that's set to begin at 9 a.m. Tuesday, March 27. Two days have been set aside, and all charges against her will be handled at that time.
Arnold's attorney, John Sutton, has said Arnold asked authorities for help in finding new homes for her horses before her October arrest. Specifically, he said Arnold reached out to the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals of Upstate New York in Queensbury.
But SPCA Director Cathy Cloutier said in November, "She never called us. She told us the same thing. We keep records of every call. This is someone who knows horses and has had horses. Why did it get to the extent that it did? How long do you think it would take for a horse to lose 400 pounds? This is not seeking help."
Authorities removed 10 of the 23 horses at Arnold's farm last fall following a veterinarian's inspection. Four more followed a bit later. All 14 were taken to Catskill Animal Sanctuary in Saugerties.
Charges against Arnold involved 19 horses. However, sanctuary spokeswoman Michelle Alvarez said Arnold only agreed to surrender 14 horses.
The remaining nine horses were deemed to be "sufficiently healthy to remain on Ms. Arnold's farm," according to a statement from the Saratoga County District Attorney's Office.
Shortly after relinquishing some horses, Arnold moved another 10 horses she kept in Washington County to her Greenfield home, bringing the number of horses on her farm back up to 19, the district attorney's office said.
Her attorney said Tuesday that Arnold now has 16 horses in Greenfield. She is willing to place some at new homes, but wants to keep 12.
State police have said Arnold has been charged previously with animal cruelty and has a history of such offenses dating to the 1990s.
Assistant District Attorney Karen Heggen said the case will go to trial before a six-member jury.
"I'm not willing to plea to the charges," she said.
Anyone interested in giving horses a new home may contact the district attorney's office at 885-2263. | Source: saratogian.com - Jan 12, 2012
Update posted on Jan 15, 2012 - 3:05PM |
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