Case Details

Severe horse neglect - 20 seized
Carlisle, NY (US)

Date: Feb 8, 2005
Disposition: Dismissed
Case Images: 1 files available

Person of Interest: Mary Dawn Sitors

Case Updates: 3 update(s) available

Case ID: 3762
Classification: Neglect / Abandonment
Animal: horse
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Suspect was in animal welfare field
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State police say a Schoharie County woman failed to provide food and water for some of her 60 horses. �They're thin. Some of them are 100 to 500 pounds underweight,� said Kathy Stevens, director of the Catskill Animal Sanctuary in Saugerties where the animals are now being cared for.

She says most of the 20 horses seized are close to the worst condition possible, with parasites, disfigured hooves and a skin fungus.

�The skin comes off in clumps. It's treatable. There no reason an animal should have this over its entire body,� Stevens said.

They came from the Palomino Palace in Carlisle, where state police gave an appearance ticket to 45-year-old Mary Sitors, ordering her to show up in court next week.

A Duanesburg woman named Sarah Kessler says this case began after Sitors hired her in October as a trainer. Kessler says she went to authorities and to 15 horse rescue farms but received almost no attention.

Stevens says one horse might die because it can no longer swallow.

�If this had happened when it should have, in October, this animal may survive. We don't know, the prognosis is not good,� Stevens said.

A state police spokeswoman says investigators had consulted a veterinarian and went away satisfied the horses were thin, but not malnourished. But police say the condition of 20 horses worsened, giving them the authority to seize the animals.

�They'll recover. Animals are amazingly resilient. It's amazing what a little food and water and a little love thrown in can do,� Stevens said.

The Catskill Animal Sanctuary will be open this weekend for qualified people who might want to care for the horses, at least until this legal matter is resolved.

Case Updates

Mary Dawn Sitors had been charged with not properly feeding 20 of her horses. On Tuesday, the charges were dismissed.

In August, the civil case was dismissed after a low burden of proof was not met. Attorney Terence Kindlon said the criminal charges were dismissed since that case would have had an even higher burden of proof using the same evidence and witnesses.

The animals were taken from the Palomino Palace in February and sent to the Catskill Animal Sanctuary. Kindlon said Sitors will likely sue to get her horses back.

The district attorney is reportedly appealing the decision.
Source: Capital News 9 - Sept 6, 2005
Update posted on Sep 6, 2005 - 1:31PM 
The civil case against a Schoharie County woman charged with animal abuse has been dismissed.

According to lawyer Terence Kindlon, the civil case against Mary Dawn Sitors was dismissed after a low burden of proof was not met. That's one reason Kindlon said the criminal case, which will begin Sept. 6, should also be dismissed. He said that will have an even higher burden of proof using the same evidence and witnesses.

Police raided the Palomino Palace in Sloansville in early February where Sitors was breeding around 60 horses. Twenty of the horses were seized and brought to the Catskill Animal Sanctuary. Kindlon said Sitors hopes to get her horses back.
Source: Capital 9 News - Aug 15, 2005
Update posted on Aug 16, 2005 - 7:25PM 
Sitors pleaded not guilty to 20 counts of cruelty to animals. At a hearing last week in Carlisle Town Court, Mary Dawn Sitors pleaded not guilty to 20 counts of cruelty to animals, a violation of the Agriculture and Markets Law. She was arrested and charged by state police at Loudonville Feb. 8 for allegedly failing to provide proper sustenance for the animals. Roughly 40 horses remain in her care.

All but one of those 20 horses taken from Sitors' Schoharie County farm, which became the wards of the Catskill Animal Sanctuary, are slowly recovering, according to Director Kathy Stevens.

Cricket, a 4-year-old mare, had to be euthanized after her organs started shutting down, which veterinarians suspect is from starvation and dehydration. She was 500 pounds underweight, and could not chew or swallow.

The rest, almost all of which are pregnant and suffering from maladies including skin infections and fungus, parasites, disfigured hooves, diarrhea and weakness, are recuperating at the sanctuary, located on Old Stage Road near the town of Ulster border.

Stevens said in the roughly two weeks since the story of the horses and their plight was publicized by local media, there's been an outpouring of support for their care. A 2,000-square-foot pole barn was erected by members and volunteers to house the animals, and a 10-acre pasture was converted into a quarantine field to prevent them from infecting the roughly 80 other farm animals that share the sanctuary.

One anonymous donor came though with a check for $2,000 after reading that it costs about $100 a month to feed each horse. "She said this is to feed all 20 horses for the next month," Stevens said.

Sitors is reportedly seeking to have the horses returned to her.
Source: The Daily Freeman - Feb 22, 2005
Update posted on Feb 23, 2005 - 9:45AM 

References

WNYT - Feb 8, 2005
The New York Times - Feb 13, 2005
Capital 9 News  - Feb 15, 2005
Capital 9 News - Feb 16 2005
Capital 9 News - Feb 21, 2005

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