Animal Abuse: 17 horses seized - East Bethel, MN | Pet-Abuse.Com Animal Cruelty Database

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Case ID: 18883

Classification: Hoarding

Animal: horse

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Attorneys/Judges

Prosecutor(s):	Jennifer Nodes
Defense(s):	Robert Richman

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17 horses seized
East Bethel, MN (US)

Incident Date: Tuesday, Nov 1, 2011
County: Anoka

Charges: Misdemeanor
Disposition: Alleged
Case Images: 8 files available

Alleged: Lowell George Friday

Case Updates: 2 update(s) available

The Anoka County attorney's office on Wednesday declined to file animal cruelty charges against a horse boarder whom authorities investigated after several animals allegedly became ill from malnutrition.

Lowell Friday, who runs a horse-boarding business on his farm in East Bethel, had 17 horses confiscated in the past three months. Although the animals were emaciated and had lice and intestinal parasites, they would have had to die or suffer great bodily harm for Friday to be charged with felony animal cruelty, Assistant County Attorney Bryan Lindberg said. His office directed the investigator to submit reports to the East Bethel city attorney for possible misdemeanor or gross misdemeanor charges.

"The health of the horses wasn't great," Lindberg said. "But the horses are back on track and given to foster care homes. They had no life-threatening ailments or injuries."

Friday couldn't be reached for comment.

Last week, seven horses were removed from Friday's business. About 30 horses remain on the farm. Of the seven horses brought to the University of Minnesota Veterinary Center, two were regarded as within several weeks of dying from malnutrition. Most were 200 to 300 pounds below normal weight.

Friday was convicted of a misdemeanor mistreatment of animals charge after the death of colts in 2007.

Case Updates

An East Bethel ranch owner, some of whose horses were found to be starved, infested with parasites and living in hazardous conditions, had 35 charges of animal cruelty against him reduced from gross misdemeanors to misdemeanors on Thursday in Anoka County court.

Lowell Friday, 72, who runs a horse-boarding business and who had 17 of his horses seized by authorities last year, could not be charged with gross misdemeanors because the penalties for the stiffer charges do not fit the laws he is accused of violating, his attorney, Robert Richman, explained after a brief hearing.

In 2009, Friday pleaded guilty to one misdemeanor count of mistreating animals but is not on probation, Richman said. The attorney said Friday plans to contest the current 35 misdemeanor charges.

The amendment to the charges was agreed upon by prosecutor Jennifer Nodes and Richman before Thursday's hearing. Friday declined to comment.

The maximum penalty for conviction of each misdemeanor is 90 days in jail and/or a $1,000 fine. The maximum penalty for each gross misdemeanor would have been a year in jail and/or a $3,000 fine.

A pretrial hearing has been scheduled for April 26.

Drew Fitzpatrick, who runs a nonprofit horse-rescue operation in Zimmerman, Minn., has overseen the rehabilitation of several of Friday's seized horses after they were treated by University of Minnesota veterinarians. After learning about the hearing, which she did not attend, Fitzpatrick said: "Is he still charged with 35 counts? Good!"

Of the 17 seized horses, one had to be euthanized, but others are recovering nicely, she said. A Paint filly named Crystal, who needed a steroid injection to get the strength to load into the trailer at Friday's property, has gained 200 pounds and has a new home in St. Francis, Fitzpatrick said.

As many as seven of the seized horses may compete later this year in a trainers' challenge in St. Paul, Fitzpatrick said.

Source: startribune.com - Feb 23, 2012
Update posted on Feb 23, 2012 - 9:28PM

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Lowell Friday, 72, is due in court to face the charges on Feb. 23.

Source: myfoxtwincities.com - Jan 12, 2012
Update posted on Jan 12, 2012 - 6:39PM

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17 horses seizedEast Bethel, MN (US)

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17 horses seized
East Bethel, MN (US)