Case Snapshot
Case ID: 2709
Classification: Neglect / Abandonment
Animal: horse
More cases in Washington County, OR
More cases in OR
Person(s) in animal care
Login to Watch this Case

New features are coming soon. Login with Facebook to get an early start and help us test them out!



Images for this Case

For more information about the Interactive Animal Cruelty Maps, see the map notes.



Thursday, Aug 5, 2004

County: Washington

Disposition: Dismissed
Case Images: 18 files available

Person of Interest: Susan Matlock

Case Updates: 5 update(s) available

Animal services seized six horses from Susan Matlock's property in Banks, where they were allegedly eating their own waste and wood from their stalls to survive. "Most of these guys had so many worms and so many skin infections and they're eyes had gone flat because of dehydration," states equine rescue worker Krissy Matterson.

One horse, Shetan, when rescued and taken out of the shed, squinted his eyes due to prolonged exposure to the darkness. Animal services seized the horses from Susan Matlock's property in Banks, where they were eating their own waste and wood from their stalls to survive. One of the horses (Pete), needs a $6,000 life-saving surgery next week. Donations are being accepted at Bank of the West.

Susan Matlock had a court hearing on Thursday on grounds of "probable cause to confinscate the animals." Her Attorney is Dan Taylor(Case# D043206M). There are 2 options, option 1 is that Judge Gardner forfiets ownership of the horses and option 2 is if Matlock wants her horses back she has to post a bond for the horses. The bond includes ALL the veterinary care which will be over $10,000. This case is seperate from the 6 counts of animal cruelty that Matlock will be arraigned for this Wednesday, Sept.8th at 9am with Judge Timothy Alexander in the Law Enforcement Center located in Hillsboro OR.

Matlock sat in the back corner of the court room by herself with a grim look on her face. Her grayish hair pulled back showing her cheek bones that resembled the evil look of Cruella DeVille.

The County Counselman, Elmer Dickens and District Attorney Sarah Allen, revealed photographs and footage taken the day the horses were rescued last month on Aug 5th 2004. The main focus was Pete, a Tennessee Walking Show Horse. The footage showed Pete barely being able to walk, hopping on his 2 back legs and his right front leg because his left front leg is in extreme pain. His left fetlock joint had an abcess draining from the large penetrating wound that was untreated by Matlock. Pete was diagnosed with septic arthritis, which is an infection of the joint. His skin was visibly unclean and he had large cubicle ulcers all over his body. Pete is in such bad condition that he either needs immediate surgery or humane euthunasia. The surgery alone will cost around $6,000. After surgery, Pete's after medical care will cost $1,500 to $2,000 a month. Pete and the other 5 horses were 300 to 400 pounds under weight and they are only 2-3 years old.

There were 2 witnesses, Dr. Jan Palmer who took care of Pete medically when they rescued him, and Annette Nochber who is the Field Supervisor for the Washington County Animal Services that helped with the rescuing of the horses. They both took the stand describing the neglect they had seen. Nochber described that the horses have been living inside a closed barn with no windows or ventilation, even on really hot days. There was puddles of urine and an over amount of feces everywhere. There was no food or water when she first checked on the horses and there was no bedding except for the matting that was covered with excretement.

On May 25th, Nochber received permission from Matlock to come out to her place every week to check on the horses living condition. Matlock was told by Washington County Animal Services that there was certain guidelines she needed to follow to keep her horses healthy or else she would have them taken away, for example, feeding, watering, veterinary care, a clean stable etc.

On June 21st, Nochber got a search warrent after Matlock refused to let Nochber to continue checking on the animals living condition. When Nochber came with the search warrent, Matlock was not there because she was in the hospital for unknown reasons. Matlock had her son take care of the place while she was in the hospital.

The Oregon Veterinary Medical Examining Board disciplined Matlock after both Veterinarian clinics in Forest Grove and Lake Oswego closed and pet owners were unable to retrieve their records. How was she "disciplined" you may ask? She was fined $500. "That's not enough discipline for me," says Amber Heartwood, an animal rights activist. "She should have her veterinary license taken away and thrown in jail for a long time." Susan Matlock's vet license expires 12-31-04, so there is hope that she will not be able to renew it.

One of the horses needs a $6,000 life-saving surgery next week. Donations are being accepted at Bank of the West.

"Susan Matlock is a veterinarian, has been a veterinarian in this area and had horses. People called to complain about the condition," Susan Field of Washington County Animal Services said.

Matlock currently works at Banfield The Pet Hospital in Hillsboro. The clinic says it will investigate the case and decide what action to take.

"We do not condone inhumane care in any way. We know this doctor has always shown compassion to all pets in our hospital," clinic director Karen Johnson said. Matlock, facing six counts of animal cruelty, is due in court later this month.

If you wish to contact Matlock's employer (Banfield Pet Hospital) to voice your opinion about Ms. Matlock:

Banfield Pet Hospital
889 NE 25th Hillsboro OR
Phone:503-844-2774
Fax:503-844-5971
Bob Douglas (handling suspension and Matlock): 1-800-838-6738 Ext.7176

Please call, email and fax the Oregon Veterinary Board Of Examiners, who issues the vet licenses, and politely request that her license be revoked - or at the very least not renewed:

Oregon Veterinary Board Of Examiners
Phone: 503-731-4051
Fax: 503-731-4207
Email:  [email protected]

If you wish to contact Judge Gardner to politely voice your opinions on this sitation and ask that if Matlock is convicted that she receive the maximum penalty allowed by law and that she be permanently banned from working with animals:

The Honorable Judge Mark Gardner
150 N.1st
Hillsboro, OR 97124-3083
Phone: 503-846-3503

If you wish to contact the District Attorney Sarah Allen to politely encourage her to prosecute this case to the fullest extent of the law:

D.A. Sarah Allen
Phone: 503-846-8671
Fax: 503-846-3407


Case Updates

A Washington County, Ore., veterinarian who had been charged with six counts of animal neglect following forfeiture of six of her horses who were so severely malnourished that it was nearly impossible to guess their ages, will not stand trial afterall.

Susan Matlock, DVM, was accused of locking the former show horses inside a dark, unventilated barn, which forced them to eat their own waste and wood from the stalls to survive and live in their own waste. Rescue workers reported that the horses had many parasites, horribly overgrown hooves, some with heavy training shoes on, skin infections, and their eyes had gone flat from dehydration. The ammonia fumes and lack of fresh air caused rescuers' eyes to burn and made it difficult to breathe. One horse, named Pete, could hardly walk when rescued and needed a $10,000 surgery due to an untreated abscessed wound which led to an extremely painful condition called septic arthritis. His surgery was a success but he is reportedly not doing well.

Circuit Court Judge Doanld R. Letourneau, persuaded by lack of a search warrant and poor communication with Matlock during her hospitalization for mental health problems, suppressed all evidence, effectively dismissing the case. ALDF has urged the prosecutor to appeal the ruling.

On Oct. 18, 2004, Matlock pled not guilty to the charges and her trial was scheduled for Feb. 16, 2005. The trial was postponed until April 12, at which time the trial was pushed back again. Lawyers argued pretrial motions, including the defense attorney's request to dismiss the case on the argument that the county officials who rescued the animals last year entered the property without a warrant. Matlock is no longer employed at Banfield Pet Hospital in Hillsboro, Ore., and has not renewed her license.
Source: ALDF - Sept 24, 2004
Update posted on Oct 21, 2005 - 4:38PM 
Matlock's trial began Wednesday - she faces misdemeanor animal-neglect charges in Washington County. Matlock was fired from her job in September.

The trial got under way Wednesday but was then rescheduled for April 12.
Source: KOIN - Feb 16, 2005
Update posted on Feb 20, 2005 - 9:13AM 
Banfield has since terminated Matlock's employment with them and stated that they have a zero tolerance animal cruelty policy - and that they do not condone inhumane care or treatment of pets or animals in any way, and will always take appropriate actions.
Update posted on Jan 14, 2005 - 1:09AM 
Susan Matlock had a court hearing and arraignment today at the Washington County Court House in Hillsboro OR. Matlock gave up ownership of the 6 horses and has plead "Not Guilty" to 6 counts of Animal Neglect. Her next court date is Oct.18 at 9am.

Susan Marie Arnold Matlock, a veternarian, who moved to Oregon from Texas in 2002, appeared in Court today at 9:00am with her Attorney Dan Taylor. She gave up ownership of the 6 horses that she is being accused of neglecting and abusing at her farm in Banks OR. Pete, one of the abused horses, will now be able to immediately get the surgery he needs. The surgery will consist of opening up the leg and cleaning the joint back to normal and then fusing it with metal plates. Pete's left fetlock joint had an abcess draining from a large penetrating wound that was untreated by Matlock. Pete was diagnosed with septic arthritis, which is an infection of the joint and surgery is the only way Pete will be able to live a long and heathy life.

Matlock pleaded "Not Guilty" to 1 count of 1st degree Animal Neglect and 5 counts of 2nd degree Animal neglect and plans to fight her charges. Her lawyer stated "She's innocent until proven guilty."
Matlock's next court date for her charges will be Oct.18th 2004 at 9:00am at the Washington County Court House.

The 6 horses were thought to be about 2-3 yrs old, this has been questioned. Pete, when first examined by veterinarian doctors, was thought to be 2 or 3 yrs old. Now they are estimating that he may actually be 6 or 7 yrs old. The horses were severely malnourished so it retarded their growth in many ways and made it hard to tell what age they actually are.

Jeannette Nachbar, the Field Supervisor for Washington County Animal Services, said that when she first walked into the shed/barn to check on the state of the animals, it was dark and silent. The horses did not nicker or make any noise at all. Usually, horses will make some noise when they see a human because they know they will get fed. These horses were not used to getting fed or loved. Nachbar also stated that the 6 horses were likely offsprings from other horses Matlock once had but probably sold. Right now, supposedly, there are only 3 horses left in the pasture, which has been reported that her 16 year old son has ownership over them. The horses were said to be in ok condition. Where did the other horses go that were in the pasture? No one knows, except for Matlock. Guesses are they were sold.

The 6 horses are doing a lot better at Elkridge Stables. They are happier and healthier already. But Pride Rescue, a non-profit, is desperatly seeking funds for the medical costs and care for these horses. If you do not have money to give, you can also help out by giving the horses, grain, hay etc. Remember, they are non-profit and have little money. So, whatever you can do to help these horses out would mean so much to Pride Rescue, and of course the 6 beautiful horses.

You can contact Jill Barth at Pride Rescue for any more info at
503-793-5422, or send donations/letters to P.O. Box 622 Forest Grove, Oregon 97116. To donate to Pete's surgery you can call Willamette Vally Equine Surgical and Medical Center at 503-678-4225. You can also get more info and pictures of the horses at their website www.helpthehorses.org.
Source: Portland Independent Media Center - Sept 9, 2004
Update posted on Sep 14, 2004 - 1:53AM 
Susan Matlock's Wednesday Arraignment has been rescheduled for Thursday Sept.9th at 9am. It will be held at the Court House in Hillsboro OR in room 301C with Judge Gardner. This Arraignment will be dealt with at the same time as the court hearing on grounds of "probable cause to confinscate the animals."
Update posted on Sep 8, 2004 - 1:55PM 

References

« OR State Animal Cruelty Map
« More cases in Washington County, OR

Note: Classifications and other fields should not be used to determine what specific charges the suspect is facing or was convicted of - they are for research and statistical purposes only. The case report and subsequent updates outline the specific charges. Charges referenced in the original case report may be modified throughout the course of the investigation or trial, so case updates, when available, should always be considered the most accurate reflection of charges.

For more information regarding classifications and usage of this database, please visit the database notes and disclaimer.