Foal starved - Chesapeake, VA

Tuesday, Nov 23, 2004

County: Chesapeake City

Disposition: Convicted

Defendant/Suspect: Crystal Jones

On 10/13/04 Animal Control Officer S. L. Sockman charged Crystal Jones, WF, DOB 5/07/80, of the 1600 block of West Road in the City of Chesapeake, with cruelty to animals. Officer Sockman had been working a case that stemmed from a complaint of a sick foal at that location.

Officer Sockman had been attempting to work with Ms. Jones on the care of the foal, named "Summer", and other horses on the property. Stalls on the property were badly in need of cleaning. The avaliable shelter was dilapidated and appeared to be about to collapse. Inside the shelter area there was debris, scrap wood and metal that the officer believed could be hazardous to the foal and other horses on the property. Outside of the shelter was a huge mound of feces covered in flies.

According to the veterinarian who examined Summer and her mare on 10/5/04, the foal was emaciated and she was covered with sores. Her joints were swollen and hot to the touch. There were flies over the wound areas, and her abdomen was distended indicating internal parasites. The veterinarian examined the mare at the same time. The mare was also in poor condition with ribs showing, no fat store, decreased muscle mass, and little milk could be expressed. The veterinarian determined that the foal was receiving only about 10% of her daily nutritional requirements. The available hay was of poor quality and was provided on the ground where it was contaminated with feces. He prescribed medication and directed the owner on how to remedy the nutritional deficiencies. He also directed her to bottle feed the foal with a nutritional supplement.

Officer Sockman continued to recheck these animals. Some Corrections were made. The shelter was repaired, and stalls were cleaned. The mound of feces had been spread out in the field. However, Summer had not improved and the officer believed that Ms. Jones was not feeding the foal as instructed. Officer Sockman was concerned that the foal would die. She discussed the case with a supervisor and decided to charge Ms. Jones with cruelty to animals, and to confiscate the foal. When the officer served the summons on 11/3/04, Ms. Jones had given the foal and 2 other horses away.

Officer Sockman contacted the person to whom Ms. Jones had given the foal. She was satisfied that the new custodian would provide the Summer with proper care, and decided not to confiscate the foal. Summer steadily improved up until the court date of 11/23/04. Officer Sockman testified, as did two veterinarians who had seen Summer. Both veterinarians felt that Summer was slowly being starved. Crystal Jones was found guilty of cruelty to animals and fined $200. She was ordered not to own any animals for two years. Officer Sockman decided that the best wasy to protect the custodian who had been caring for Summer was to petition the court for custody to be granted to Animal Control, who would in turn transfer custody to the custodian. The court agreed.

References

• City of Chesapeake General District Court Criminal Division Docket # 04-9441

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