Case Report

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

References