Pet-Abuse.Com - Animal Abuse Case Details: Horse and dog neglect

Horse and dog neglect
Bowie, MD (US)

Incident Date: Thursday, Jun 9, 2005
County: Prince Georges
Local Map: available
Disposition: Convicted

Abuser/Suspect: Frederick J. Corder, DVM

Case Updates: 3 update(s) available

Case ID: 4845

Classification: Neglect / Abandonment

Animal: dog (non pit-bull), horse

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Authorities are considering filing animal cruelty charges against the top public health officer in Prince George's County after horses and dogs allegedly suffering from neglect were removed from his property in Anne Arundel County.

Animal Control administrator Tahira Shane Thomas told The (Annapolis) Capital a decision on charges against Dr. Frederick J. Corder would be made after her staff finishes its investigation. Corder, a pediatrician, has served as Prince George's county chief public health officer since December 2003.

"I would venture to say that this is one of the most severe cases this agency has ever seen," Thomas said after officials removed two miniature horses and six dogs from a barn on property in southwestern Anne Arundel County.

Police were called to a house on June 9 after neighbors reported seeing two full-sized horses running loose. After corralling those horses, police discovered the two miniature horses and the dogs.

The hooves of the miniatures hadn't been trimmed in more than a year, disfiguring them and leaving them in debilitating pain, barely able to stand or walk, Thomas said. Officials believe the beige-colored horses, both less than 3 feet tall, spent much of their time lying on their sides. Animal Control officials reported that the animals were living in dangerously unsanitary conditions and hadn't been properly vaccinated.

The mare suffered from abscesses in her mouth, and the hindquarters of the underweight stallion trembled, she said.

The dogs were locked in a cramped pen covered with a thick layer of excrement and urine. One suffered from a severe skin infection, Thomas said.

Corder, who lives in Bowie, told The (Annapolis) Capital Tuesday he was subletting the property to a tenant and it was the tenant's responsibility to take care of the animals.

"I have talked to him (the tenant) since then and we have worked out the issues," Corder said.

Neither he nor Thomas would identify the tenant, but Thomas said the tenant won't face charges.

Animal Control investigated Corder for a similar incident two years ago in which three miniature horses suffered from the same neglect of their hooves. Thomas said charges were not filed after Corder promised to correct the problem.

"We worked with this gentlemen for six months and he corrected the problem," said Thomas.

Corder said the earlier case didn't involve animal neglect, but he didn't provide details.

Case Updates

The former Prince George's County health officer who pleaded guilty last month to three misdemeanor counts of animal cruelty in Anne Arundel County was sentenced yesterday to 20 days of house arrest by Circuit Court Judge Ronald A. Silkworth.

Dr. Frederick J. Corder Sr., a Bowie pediatrician, also was sentenced to five years' probation with the first year supervised and 100 hours of community service, according to Kristin Riggin, a spokeswoman for the state's attorneys office.

Corder is allowed to own only household pets, and he is required to provide biannual reports on their health, Riggin said.

As part of his plea deal, Corder agreed to pay $12,000 restitution to Anne Arundel County Animal Control and to Days End Farm for care they provided to animals that were seized from him in June.

Acting on an anonymous tip last summer, the county's animal control division took two miniature ponies and six Shar-Pei dogs from Corder's farm in Harwood, authorities have said. The ponies had severely overgrown hooves, and one of them was euthanized with Corder's permission.

Source: Baltimore Sun - March 30, 2006
Update posted on Mar 30, 2006 - 11:17AM

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The former chief health officer of Prince George's County pleaded guilty Thursday in Anne Arundel Circuit Court to three misdemeanor counts of animal cruelty in connection with the neglect of miniature horses and dogs on property he owns.

Frederick J. Corder, 53, agreed to pay restitution of more than $12,000 to Days-End Farm and County Animal Control for treatment they provided to the neglected animals.

Two miniature horses and six dogs were found in "severe" states of neglect in June on property Corder owns in Harwood.

Anne Arundel animal control officials discovered the horses with 14-inch long untrimmed hooves that had curled up and were causing the animals severe pain. One of the horses was later euthanized. Six dogs were found in stalls layered with excrement, and one had a severe skin condition.

Corder, a pediatrician who headed the Prince George's health department since 2003, resigned from that post a month after the animals were found.

He faces 90 days in jail on each count. Sentencing is set for March 9.

Source: WTOP News - Feb 3, 2006
Update posted on Feb 3, 2006 - 11:32AM

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The top Prince George's County health official, who was arrested Wednesday on two felony charges of animal cruelty and six misdemeanor charges of animal neglect, resigned from his county post yesterday.

"It is an unfortunate chain of events that has led to Dr. [Frederick J.] Corder's decision," Prince George's County Executive Jack Johnson said in an e-mailed statement.

The charges were brought against Corder five weeks after Anne Arundel County animal control officials confiscated eight animals from his Harwood farm - two miniature horses with severely overgrown hooves and six dogs that were covered in urine and feces.

"It is rare that we come across cases of this magnitude," said Lt. Jonathan R. Church, who oversees animal control for the county police.

Police documents filed with the Anne Arundel District Court state: "The [horses'] hooves were grossly overgrown, misshapen and the damage was so extensive that the horses' bones in its feet had rotated, become distorted in shape and partially eroded. ... The veterinarian stated the [injuries] ... took place over months to years of neglect."

One of the dogs had "a fever of 104 degrees, conjunctivitis in both eyes, two ear infections and the skin was inflamed, red and irritated with patches of scabs," according to police documents filed with the court. With Corder's permission, one of the horses - a stallion named Star - was later euthanized, police said.

Corder was released from the Anne Arundel County Detention Center on Wednesday evening after posting $100,000 bail. He faces up to three years in jail if he is convicted of the felony charges.

Source: Baltimore Sun - July 15, 2005
Update posted on Jul 15, 2005 - 6:17PM

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References

	WTOP News - June 23, 2005
	WBAL - June 23, 2005

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Horse and dog neglectBowie, MD (US)

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Horse and dog neglect
Bowie, MD (US)