The Humane Society of Marion County executed a warrant on January 12, 2005, seizing two horses. On Jan 10, the Humane Society received a call that a horse was down. The horse reportedly lingered for two days but ultimately died. According to the veterinarian, the probable cause of death was malnutrition, and the veterinanarian stated that the horse was emaciated.
The horse was allegedly lactating and had a colt that stood by, watching her mother die and then trying to nurse after she was dead. The colt and another mare are now in the Humane Society of Marion County's custody pending court hearing. There is a warrant out for the owner's arrest on charges of animal cruelty.
The owners name is Bruce Teeter. It is unsure as to whether the individual he be located. Anyone with information is asked to call the Humane Society of Marion County. Case UpdatesAnother continuance has been issued in the case of Bruce Teeter, the Marion County man accused of abusing horses on his property near Bruno.
Teeter, 53, was set to appear in Marion County District Court on Monday. According to the Marion County District Court Clerk, no new trial date has been set, although it is likely to be set towards the end of the month.
Kenford Carter, Marion County deputy prosecuting attorney, said a key witness for the state was unable to be in court on Monday.
Teeter originally was scheduled for trial on Feb. 17. That trial date was continued at legal counsel's request until March. 6.
Teeter is alleged to have neglected 10 horses on his property in rural Marion County. He is charged with three counts of cruelty to animals and failure to test for equine infectious anemia. Horse owners are required to perform the EIA test once a year. If convicted, Teeter faces up to a year in prison on each count of animal cruelty.
Teeter turned himself in Jan. 17 and posted a $500 bond in the case. His attorney, Philip Moon of Harrison, phoned in a not-guilty plea to the Marion County District Court on Jan. 30, and he remains free.
The Marion County Humane Society raided Teeter's property near Bruno Jan. 11 after receiving several complaints from neighbors.
Once on the property on Marion County Road 5014, the Humane Society discovered a dead mare and nine malnourished horses, according to police reports.
The mare's 2-month-old foal and another horse were taken from the property for veterinary care.
Rusty, as the foster parents were calling the horse, died a few days later. The colt is recovering.
Veterinarian Jim Lowe said at the time the nine live horses all were malnourished and showed signs of muscle atrophy.
The Humane Society had volunteers checking the site beginning Jan. 8 and reported there was no visible source of food on the 65-acre lot and a creek running through the land was dry. The group continues to monitor the seven horses that remain on the property. | Source: The Baxter Bulletin - March 4, 2006
Update posted on Mar 5, 2006 - 11:22PM |
A Marion County man who was wanted in connection with the death of one horse and the mistreatment of nine others turned himself in to Marion County authorities on January 17, 2006.
Bruce Teeter, 53, said nothing as deputies booked him, according to Marion County Sheriff Carl McBee. Teeter was charged with three misdemeanor counts of animal cruelty. "He was very cooperative, but he didn't let us know very much," McBee said.
Teeter turned himself in at 10:30 a.m. after his attorney, Philip Moon of Harrison, contacted McBee. Following his booking, Teeter posted a $500 bond and was released. McBee said he is unsure where Teeter has been since his property was raided more a week and a half ago. According to authorities, Teeter left 10 starving horses on a 65-acre lot he owns near Bruno. Kimberly Johnson with the Marion County Humane Society said she is unsure why Teeter raises horses. The Marion County Humane Society discovered the horses Jan. 8, 2006, after complaints from neighbors about the treatment of the animals.
One horse, a mare who was still nursing a foal, died three days later. Even after she died, the mare continued to lactate and her foal attempted to nurse. Mountain Home Veterinarian Jim Lowe examined the animals and determined each was chronically malnourished. Volunteers from the Marion County Humane Society have been feeding the horses hay and caring for them since the property was searched. Johnson investigated an allegation last week that Teeter used his parents' Boone County farm to raise other horses which also were mistreated. She said the horses at the Boone County farm are in "fair" condition and no charges are expected.
Teeter is slated to appear in Marion County District Court Jan. 30, 2006. If convicted, Teeter faces up to a year in prison on each count. | Source: The Baxter Bulletin - January 18, 2006
Update posted on Jan 19, 2006 - 4:51AM |
Authorities in Marion County are still searching for a man who has been charged with three counts of misdemeanor animal cruelty after investigators found 10 malnourished horses, one of which died, on his property near Bruno. Marion County Sheriff Carl McBee said investigators think 53-year-old Bruce Teeter is out of state. "We haven't found him yet, but we expect to get our hands on him at some point," McBee said.
As law officers search for Teeter, new allegations of possible animal abuse involving Teeter have surfaced in Boone County.
Kimberly Johnson of the Marion County Humane Society said she is investigating a woman's claim that Teeter kept additional horses at his parents' Boone County farm. Johnson said she visited the farm January 12, 2006 and the horses are in "fair" condition, but she plans to contact the Humane Society in Harrison and make them aware of the situation. The woman, Kelly Sturkie, said she and her husband worked at Teeter's parents' farm from 2001 to 2004. Sturkie said Teeter kept between 20 and 28 horses at the farm. She said in the winter months, the horses were neglected. "At least two horses died while we worked out there," Sturkie said. "They were emaciated, filled with worms and ticks, and didn't have anything to eat."
In a previous interview, Johnson said authorities don't think Teeter has been in the area for several months, but Sturkie said she saw him at his parent's house just after Christmas. She said she did not speak to Teeter. Sturkie said on numerous occasions she fed Teeter's horses and called a veterinarian to treat one horse. She said she doesn't know why Teeter keeps the horses. Two or three of the mustangs at the farm were acquired through the Bureau of Land Management, she said.
If convicted, Teeter faces up to one year in prison and a $1,000 fine for each count of animal cruelty. | Source: Baxter Bulletin - January 14, 200
Update posted on Jan 16, 2006 - 4:33AM |
"If you ever wanted to see three grown men break down and cry, this did it." Jerry Gager said the sight of an infant foal trying to nurse from its dying mother was enough to bring him and others to tears. The foal's mother died sometime January 11, 2006 morning. The Marion County Humane Society removed the foal and another horse from a pasture in Bruno Wednesday after finding the dead mare and several other malnourished animals.
A warrant charging animal cruelty and neglect was issued for the owner of the property, a man named "Bruce" Teeter. Teeter hasn't been seen for months, according to Kimberly Johnson of the Humane Society. Johnson said the organization had received multiple phone calls from both neighbors and those who drove by the property. The horse pasture sits along Marion County Road 5014, with the fence line following the road. The Humane Society had volunteers checking the site, bringing hay to the 10 horses. There was no visible source of food on the 65-acre lot, and the creek running through the land was dry. "This has been an ongoing problem," Johnson said. "We were out here a year ago for a dead horse on the property, but by the time we were alerted, the body was already decomposing."
Dr. Jim Lowe, the veterinarian called to the scene to examine the animals, said they were malnourished and could each stand to gain 100 pounds. "I'd say this one is between 15-20 years old," Lowe said of the dead mare. "She is emaciated and still lactating. I'd say the pregnancy was the worst thing that could have happened to her � every calorie she took in went to that foal." Gager said he was on the site; he and others tried to get the mare to stand. "The poor thing was so weak and so tired � it just couldn't do it," he said.
Lowe said the mare was in distress prior to its death, and there was little that could be done for any animal at that stage.
The nine live horses all were malnourished and showed signs of muscle atrophy, Lowe said. The second horse removed from the property, called Rusty by the foster family taking her in, was thin, sunburned and was covered in large ticks. "I would rate this one a 2 or a 3 out of 10 � with 10 being a butterball and 1 being skeletal," Lowe said. He added that hay was the best thing for the animals at this point, noting that it would fill them up and generate body heat without being too hard for their systems to handle.
Lowe recommended a plan of nutrition for the two horses taken in by Todd Henson and said other medical decisions would be made later.
Seven horses were left at the site; Johnson said they are monitoring the situation and will seize the animals if their conditions worsen. At least six dogs also were roaming the property. A house sitting at the top of a hill overlooking the pasture appeared vacant. Three doghouses sat on the porch, each sheltering an open bag of dog food. The water to the house was off, and there was no other water source for the dogs. Johnson said most of the dogs appeared to be in decent condition, although hydration was a concern.
The suspect in the case goes by several first names, according to neighbors, and is believed to work in the Branson, Mo., area. Johnson said she hoped the warrants would yield a speedy arrest. Johnson said the Humane Society, which is staffed by 20 volunteers, could always use volunteer foster parents as it doesn't have a shelter. Anyone interested in helping can contact the Humane Society of Marion County at P.O. Box 1384, Yellville, AR 72687. | Source: The Baxter Bulletin - January 12, 2006
Update posted on Jan 15, 2006 - 9:53AM |
References | The Humane Society of Marion County |
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