 Horse neglect
Longview, TX (US)Date: Oct 7, 2002
County: Gregg
Local Map: available
Disposition: Not Charged
Person of Interest: male
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Longview city officials say a neophyte horse owner's ignorance, not maliciousness, is to blame for the sorry state of a small herd of parasite-infested animals found on the man's property. One of the horses was so sick it had to be euthanized.
"It appears he was trying his best with what he had," said Kevin Cummings, the city's environmental health manager. "I don't think this individual meant to do anything wrong."
Cummings declined to identify the resident at 1404 Garner Lane off Eden Drive in northeast Longview. The man has been fully cooperating with authorities.
Cummings, himself a horse owner, said investigators found no signs of abuse. The animals were groomed and clean with no injuries. He noted the dogs at the residence were healthy and well-cared for. Abusive owners typically mistreat all their animals, he said.
The 35-year-old man, who moved to the home in April from the Ore City area, has been allowed to keep the surviving five horses under conditions set by the city: He has to acknowledge responsibility for the horses. Animal Control officers will have unrestricted access to the animals for several months to monitor their condition. He has to pay a $500 fee that will cover the city's costs, and will have to hire a veterinarian and follow that doctor's orders explicitly.
Cummings said he expects to codify the arrangement Monday before a judge.
If the owner does not comply, the city will pursue criminal charges. In most cases, animal cruelty is a Class A misdemeanor.
The owner and his family are new to horse care, Cummings said, and had attempted to treat the horses' intestinal worms themselves. But the infestation resisted the medications they administered, leading to "very, very thin" animals, Cummings said.
Authorities were called to the home Wednesday afternoon where they found one of the six animals on the ground, too stricken to rise.
"The one that was down didn't seem to be able or want to get up," Cummings said.
Animal Control officers consulted with a veterinarian who felt like the horse was too ill to save, Cummings said. The vet felt the animals were suffering from a "tremendous load" of parasites, which had overcome the fallen horse.
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