Horse neglect - 3 seized, 1 died
Ocean City, MD (US)Date: Jul 22, 2005
Disposition: Not Charged
Abuser names unreleased
Case Updates: 1 update(s) available |
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Law enforcement officers have removed three horses from an attraction at the Frontiertown theme park on suspicion of animal neglect. The department is also investigating the death of a fourth horse on July 22.
Officers with the Sheriff's Office, the Worcester County Bureau of Investigation and Maryland State Police searched the park on July 26 after receiving complaints about the horses' treatment from employees and visitors. The horses pulled a stagecoach as part of the park's Old West-style entertainment.
The officers were accompanied by a veterinarian who examined the three stagecoach horses, Sheriff's Office Capt. Stuart Murray said.
"We've got the horses at a secluded area where they're being well taken care of," Murray said.
The veterinarian, Dr. G. Eric Palmer of Berlin, said he had been attending twice a day to the horse that died last week after diagnosing it as colicky.
The other three horses, which were removed from the park, were in good health, he said, dissenting from the decision to remove them from Frontiertown.
"They are not ill at all and should never have been taken from the park," Palmer said Wednesday. "They work for a living. It was hot, they were sweating. People took offense to that." He said the horses were being treated humanely and rested in a shady area twice an hour during the day.
Murray said the horses were not owned by Frontiertown but by an individual who was hired by the park because he could provide the stagecoach rides. Any animal abuse or neglect charges that may arise from the investigation would be directed at that person, he said.
Murray said the horses taken from the park were the only animals found to be in poor health at the park after other animals were also examined.
"There are other horses there that they use for children," Murray said.
"All those horses were checked and found to be in good health."
Police expect to decide whether charges will be filed in the matter by July 29. Case Updates| Posted on Aug 7, 2005 - 3:55AM | Three horses were brought back to Frontier Town on Route 611 in Berlin on Thursday morning after police seized them on Tuesday of last week. According to the Worcester County Sheriff's Office, a veterinarian's report shows the animals were dehydrated and had open sores. They were returned after police and the owner struck a compromise.
"Our own patrol division will provide unannounced inspections of the area of the horses and if we were to find anything wrong or anything in question, we would contact a vet immediately," said Capt. Stuart Murray of the sheriff's office.
The police say a fourth horse died of cholic and they do not believe it was related to neglect or abuse. | | Source: WBOC - Aug 4, 2005 |
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