Horse neglect
Sacramento, CA (US)

Incident Date: Tuesday, May 31, 2005
County: Sacramento

Disposition: Not Charged

Person of Interest: Robert Raup

A Sacramento County organization known for helping disabled children is under investigation for allegedly neglecting several animals. Animal Control officers found 11 horses that were 150 to 200 pounds underweight, according to authorities, adding that the horses' ribs and hip bones were exposed and some were even going blind.

Three goats were also found to be neglected, officials said.

Animal Control officers are now investigating Robert Raup -- the head of Family Maintenance Centers, a nonprofit organization that works with children in 4-H clubs. Raup said he feels he got a raw deal.

"They are hard to keep weight on because of their age and health problem and whatever. And we brought our veterinarian in who told us what to do, and we where in the process of doing that," Raup said.

An Animal Control officer who owned one of the horses is also being investigated.

Raup could face more than a dozen neglect charges and the animal control officer could be fired.

References

• KCRA via Yahoo News - June 28, 2005

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