2 horses starved, resulting in death
Wasilla, AK (US)Incident Date: Sunday, Mar 19, 2006
County: Matanuska Susitna
Charges: Misdemeanor
Disposition: Alleged
Case Images: 2 files available
Alleged:
» Deborah Michelle Nardini
» Gary Fank - Not Charged
Case Updates: 3 update(s) available
After two Valley horses, with the same owner die--one a confirmed starvation death--the Mat-Su Borough Assembly members, and community members are expected to ask, "How could this happen?". While the horse abuse allegations are not on the agenda, we are being told by borough officials, when the public is allowed to talk, this is when we are likely to hear upset community members ask how could Animal Control let the horses' owners keep the horses after they were issued citations.
You'll recall, according to neighbors, one horse keeper and the horses' veterinarian: Nick, the three-year-old Belgian horse, and a twelve-year-old appaloosa were bought by the Valley couple back in October--somewhat malnourished but said to be easily fixable. The allegations are the couple malnourished the horses until they died. In fact, Nick's vet confirms he starved to death. It is likely at least one Assembly member and the community will ask Animal Control officials how that could happen.
The State Troopers are investigating the couple, who also run a day care at the same facility where the horses died. Borough officials say troopers have asked them not to take action until their investigation is concluded.
Case UpdatesA former Wasilla area day care operator faces charges of animal cruelty for the deaths of two horses.
Deborah Michelle Nardini, 32, was charged with two misdemeanor counts of animal cruelty earlier this month in District Court in Palmer.
According to an affidavit filed by Alaska State Trooper Heidi Anderson, Nardini bought two horses in October 2005. One, an Appaloosa mare, was underweight at the time. The other, a 3-year-old draft horse, was in good condition, Anderson wrote.
According to Anderson's affidavit, Nardini's boyfriend, Gary Fank, said the couple cut back on feed for the horses over the winter to save money.
The couple purchased less than one round bale a month for the horses, which is typically only enough to sustain two horses for about 10 days, the trooper wrote. The affidavit also states that Nardini knew about organizations that could help her with the horses, but she did not try to contact them.
In January 2006, the Appaloosa mare went down and Fank shot it, giving the remains to a local musher, according to the affidavit. Then in March the other horse went down and could not get up. The horse was rescued, but died five days later. A veterinarian did a necropsy and found no fat around the horse's heart and other organs, the document states.
In addition to the criminal charges, Nardini lost her state license to operate the M & M's Playhouse day care because of concerns about upkeep at the facility. Nardini appealed that decision, but she recently reached a settlement with the state that forbids her from reapplying for a license for at least three years and sets terms should she reapply. | Source: Anchorage Daily News - May 24, 2006
Update posted on Jun 16, 2006 - 1:13PM |
State officials have revoked the license of a Wasilla day-care provider after complaints about the treatment of horses on the property and because of concerns about the care being given children there.
Marcey Bish, who heads the state's child care licensing program, said the state revoked the license of M&M's Playhouse, owned by Deborah Michelle Nardini at 1025 Vicki Way, last Thursday. The state had previously suspended the facility's license in mid-March.
Bish said the state has had numerous problems with the facility since it was first licensed in 2001.
Those problems were detailed in an 11-page report given to Nardini. It included inadequate record-keeping, not keeping a clean facility, and, at one point, letting children have access to a play area that included a cement mixer and broken-down vehicles overflowing with garbage.
More recently, during a visit in March, officials found no toilet paper in the bathroom, a burn barrel overflowing with soiled diapers, a blocked emergency exit window and a back door that led onto a porch with a large hole and protruding nails.
Nardini corrected problems in the past and no children were ever reported harmed, but problems continued to crop up, Bish said. There was a pattern, she said.
"We don't want to say this provider is a bad person," Bish said. "But she displays some behaviors we just can't continue to condone."
Nardini, reached by phone, declined to comment.
"I have nothing to say," she said.
Nardini's facility came under scrutiny last month in part because of the deaths of two horses in her care.
Alaska State Troopers said Wednesday they are investigating the death of one of the horses as a case of possible animal abuse from starvation, but no charges have been filed.
The division suspended Nardini's license in March after receiving two complaints questioning the environment in which the children were being kept.
The day-care facility is one of about 750 statewide overseen by the division, she said.
Under her license, Nardini was allowed to care for up to 10 children at a time, Bish said. She said Nardini has until April 28 to appeal the decision to revoke her license. | Source: Anchorage Daily News - April 20, 2006
Update posted on Apr 21, 2006 - 11:17AM |
State troopers and Mat-Su Borough Animal Control and Regulation officers continue to investigate the death earlier this month of Nick, a three-year old Belgian draft horse, and his stable mate, Happy.
Animal control officers and a veterinarian visited the Vicki Way home on March 24 to follow up on reports of abuse or neglect of other animals.
"They went out to do a status check, but no one was home," Borough Director of Emergency Services Dennis Brodigan said. "There was a dog on site that the vet checked out, but no other animals were seen at the home."
Brodigan added that he was going to speak with animal control chief Dave Allison about visiting the home of abuse suspects Deborah Michelle Nardini and Gary Fank.
State Trooper spokesman Greg Wilkinson acknowledged the case still is under investigation, but he could not comment further until it is determined whether official charges should be filed.
"The Troopers are moving forward with their investigation, which takes time," Brodigan said. "I just fear that if the case ever reaches the prosecutor's desk that it will get lost in the shuffle and nothing will happen after that."
Brodigan said if nothing comes of the troopers' investigation, animal control would step back in and issue citations.
"We're limited to acting under borough code," Brodigan said. "Animal control can't bring criminal charges, so all we can do is hand out fines. I hope it doesn't come to that."
According to borough code, the maximum fine which animal control could levy against the former owners of the horses would be $300 for cruelty to animals. | Source: Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman - April 2, 2006
Update posted on Apr 3, 2006 - 7:36PM |
References
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