Pet-Abuse.Com - Animal Abuse Case Details: Horse neglect - approx 50 to be seized

Horse neglect - approx 50 to be seized
Vidalia, LA (US)

Incident Date: Wednesday, Apr 5, 2006
County: Concordia
Local Map: available
Disposition: Convicted

Abuser/Suspect: Debbie Palmer

Case Updates: 9 update(s) available

Case ID: 7998

Classification: Hoarding

Animal: horse

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On April 5, 2006, Lisa Smith and Lyn Latimer of the Concordia Animal Welfare Shelter served a warrant on Debbie Palmer � one that put her in jail for the night.

The following day, they served another that took a horse from her.

That horse, Sugar, is just one of Palmer�s approximately 50 horses, the rest of which will soon be taken from her as well.

The warrants were issued by Seventh District Judge Kathy Johnson at the behest of Smith and Latimer.

Smith and Latimer, who also serve as the parish�s animal control officers, said Palmer, a nurse, was an �animal hoarder� and unable to provide proper care for her animals.

On the morning of April 6, Palmer, 49, was released after posting $25,000 bond on one count of cruelty to animals. The conditions of her bond require her to make an appointment for a psychiatric examination within five days and make arrangements for care of all her animals within three days. She is not allowed to maintain any pets.

When reached by phone at her home, Palmer said she was unhappy about "trumped-up charges" and planned to contest the matter in court.

Palmer, 930 Eagle Road, Vidalia, faces six counts of animals at large and 10 counts of cruelty to animals from a February arrest.

She is scheduled for arraignment before Division B Judge Leo Boothe on April 12. It is likely any additional charges will be transferred to Boothe�s division.

As animal control officers, Smith and Latimer have the authority to enforce animal safety and cruelty laws.

Smith thanked the Concordia Parish Sheriff�s Office for its help in helping them enforce the laws.

While Palmer could face jail time on the charges facing her, Latimer said that�s not what they want to come from this.

�We just want the horses to be healthy and taken care of the right way,� she said.

Smith said she would like to see Palmer educated in caring for animals and, once done, �we hope she�s able to have some horses.�

After being seized, Sugar was taken to a nearby farm where it will be rehabilitated and treated for rain rot, malnutrition and anything else the blood test reveals.

Smith and Latimer executed a warrant for the seizure of another of Palmer�s horses on April 5, but Classy was not on the levee pasture area Palmer leases.

Palmer told them someone must have come and taken the horse during the night but she didn�t know who did, or where they took it.

Smith said there is a reward being offered through CAWS for any information leading to Classy�s being found. Call (318) 757-2297 to report information.

Case Updates

The Vidalia woman who has been in and out of court for the last year on various animal cruelty charges will be spending some time behind bars.

Judge Leo Boothe sentenced Debbie Palmer, 930 Eagle Road, to serve a sentence of almost eight months in prison after she violated special conditions of her probation.

Palmer, who was convicted of animal cruelty charges last November and was arrested on similar charges in June, pleaded not guilty to charges of three counts of animal cruelty stemming from a June arrest Wednesday.

The June charges came after two horses were reportedly found by animal welfare officers to be in neglected conditions.

Palmer was already on probation for her earlier conviction, and on June 13 Judge Leo Boothe placed special conditions on her probation and bond.

The conditions included she not own, possess or be responsible for the care of any animals.

At Wednesday�s hearing, Assistant District Attorney Brad Burget called for a review and revocation of Palmer�s probation and bond, stating he believed there was sufficient evidence she was in possession of animals.

Palmer�s mother Katherine McGlothin testified Palmer transferred ownership and care of her horses to McGlothin and McGlothin�s grandson Michael McGlothin as soon as they left court June 13, and Palmer has not had anything to do with the horses since then.

The supposed sale of horses to her close family members was a way for Palmer to snub the court�s order to not own any animals, Burget said.

Witnesses testified animals were on Palmer�s property after June 13, but they had access to food and water, and the majority of Palmer�s horses were healthy.

One witness, veterinarian Debbie Guillory, said some of Palmer�s horses were sick at the time, but that was not due to neglect, and medication was on the site as evidence the horses were being treated.

�Debbie has expressed concern and care about her horses to me for years,� she said.

Guillory said she believed Palmer accidentally transferred an unknown parasite to one of her pastures when she rescued a horse from the Sicily Island area.

That parasite could have been the source of the horses� sickness, Guillory said.

�There have certainly been horses that suffered and died because they could have had greater and faster care, but Debbie loves a horse and wants to rescue them all,� Guillory said.

Palmer will return to court Nov. 14.

Source: The Natchez Democrat -July 30, 3007
Update posted on Jul 30, 2007 - 11:09PM

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The Vidalia woman convicted of animal cruelty in November was back in court Wednesday.

Debbie Palmer was convicted of horses at large in April 2006. She was also convicted of two counts of cruelty to animals, three counts of improper disposal of animal carcasses and a violation of the livestock sanitary board in November.

Her lawyer, Paul Lemke, filed a motion to reconsider her sentence � handed down in February � after it was discovered the prosecution had neglected to inform the defense of all of the evidence against Palmer before the trial, Concordia Animal Welfare Shelter Director Lisa Smith said.

Palmer waived her right to a jury trial, Lemke said.

Boothe sentenced Palmer on the standing convictions.

Boothe suspended a previous fine for the horses at large charge, but sentenced Palmer to almost eight months prison for the animal cruelty and improper disposal of a carcass convictions. He then suspended the prison sentence and placed her on two years probation.

He also assigned her 40 hours of community service, 10 of which are to be spent helping at the LSU veterinary department in Baton Rouge.

Boothe limited the number of horses Palmer can own or possess to 10 for the duration of her probation. An identical order was given at Palmer�s initial sentencing.

At the time of her trial, Palmer reportedly owned more than 50 horses.

Many of those horses were taken into custody because they were allegedly neglected or abused.

�We are very pleased the limitation has remained at 10,� Smith said. �As for the fines, it was never our intention to cost her a large amount of money.�

Palmer�s case was first referred to the Concordia Animal Welfare Shelter when one of her horses was struck and killed by a vehicle in January 2006.

Source: The Natchez Democrat - May 30, 2007
Update posted on May 30, 2007 - 7:41PM

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Debbie Palmer, convicted of cruelty to animals, was sentenced to fines and a year's probation Wednesday.

Palmer was convicted in November on charges of two counts of cruelty to animals, three counts of improper disposal of an animal carcass and violation of the livestock sanitary board.

Roughly two years in prison was assigned and suspended, so Palmer will serve no jail time.

Seventh District Judge Leo Boothe sentenced her a $2,000 fine and five consecutive eight-hour days of public service with the Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine.

Boothe also ordered that Palmer would no longer be allowed to have more than 10 horses and was not allowed to take care of others� horses.

Palmer reportedly owns more than 50 horses currently. Many of her horses were taken into custody prior to the trial because of alleged neglect and abuse.

Lisa Smith, director of Concordia Animal Welfare Shelter, which seized the horses, said she was pleased.

�We are very thrilled at the reduction of the number of horses (Palmer is allowed to own),� Smith said. �We're going to make sure when she does get rid of the horses that she does it in a humane manner.�

Palmer�s attorney, Paul Lemke, said he would appeal Boothe�s decision.

�I don�t have any comment,� Lemke said. �I�ll make my comment to the court of appeals.�

Palmer was found guilty of horses at large in April, a situation that ended with an SUV hitting and killing a horse in January.

Palmer was also arraigned Wednesday on charges of simple battery for allegedly assaulting Smith several weeks ago.

The hearing for the assault charges is set for April 11.

Source: Natchez Democrat - Feb 14, 2007
Update posted on Feb 15, 2007 - 3:26AM

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Debbie Palmer of Vidalia was found guilty on two counts of cruelty to animals, three counts of improper disposal of an animal carcass and two counts of not properly testing the animals.

Judge Leo Boothe issued the verdict late Wednesday afternoon, Nov. 15, 2006, following the six-hour trial in Seventh Judicial District Court in Vidalia. Palmer will be sentenced by Boothe on December 13.

The verdict concerning the proper testing of animals involved the Coggins test, which is used to insure an animal does not have a viral disease and checks for Equine Infectious Anemia antibodies in the horse's blood. It is to prove that a horse is safe to be around other horses.

"There is no way Ms. Palmer could care for 47 animals," Boothe said. "It's apparent she has a love for animals, but she just acquired way too many, especially being away three or four days a week. And she admitted she had not used the Coggins test."

"I was very impressed with how the DA's office handled the case and the professionalism of the Louisiana Department of Agriculture's investigators," said Lisa Smith, animal control officer with Concordia Animal Welfare and Rescue who was instrumental in the case. "And I thought Judge Boothe was very fair and impartial."

The cruelty cases involved two horses, a 5-year-old stallion named Scamp and also called Geronimo that had a punctured eye, and a 28-year-old mare named Easy and also called Cissy that had 90 percent blindness in one eye. Her other eye had been removed.

Palmer originally faced charges involving 47 horses, but that was amended to include only two horses by the District Attorney's office.

"And one was debatable because of how old the mare was," Boothe said. "She should have done something different as put the mare down or maintained it separately."

Debra Barlow, president of Hopeful Haven Equine Rescue Organization in Shreveport and a witness in the case, said most horses live to about 30 years of age. Barlow and one of her volunteers took care of the horses after they were seized.

"Justice prevailed," Barlow said after the outcome. "And we are going to request that she (Palmer) not be allowed to own a horse during her probation period. She doesn't need the horses. She just needs to get on with her life doing something else."

Smith said she would like to see Palmer given a mandatory sentence of 40 hours of community service possibly working with a veterinarian to learn about caring for animals.

"I would like to see the court reduce the number of horses she is able to keep and to monitor her," Smith said. "There's no way anyone can take care of that many horses."

Palmer was charged earlier in the year with six counts of having horses at large, 10 counts of cruelty to animals and simple criminal damage to property and charged with one count of cruelty to animals in April after CAWS received reports of dead horses on the property.

Palmer was found guilty on three counts of livestock at large. The Sheriff's Office seized a few of Palmer's horses in December of 2004, while CAWS arranged the seizure of 44 horses belonging to Palmer in April, 2006.

In July, Concordia DA John Johnson dismissed all charges against Palmer, but said in court he intended to pursue the investigation into animal cruelty allegations against Palmer with the assistance of the Louisiana Department of Agriculture & Forestry's Livestock Brand Division.

On Wednesday, Johnson said he believed the state proved the animals were not nourished and the fact Palmer ignored requests to get Coggins tests showed she was "self-serving."

"You had some independent parties with nothing to gain take the stand," Johnson said. "People tried to work with Ms. Palmer in every way they could but she had no compliance whatsoever. She thumbed her nose at the system. When she failed to take the test, that was a slam dunk. The court must use common sense to see through this or otherwise this will continue to happen."

Attorney Paul Lemke said Palmer provided care for the horses, making personal and financial sacrifices.

"And the charge is about the two horses, not about all the other horses the state has tried to bring in," he said.

Lemke successfully gained a motion to suppress a picture of 10 dead horses used at the trial that were taken by Concordia Animal Welfare Shelter and Rescue director Smith because, "she misrepresented herself and received a warrant through improper procedures, which is a key issue in the case."

Smith failed to put "animal control officer" on one of the affidavit's, which Lemke cited as misrepresentation.

"I think Lisa Smith acted in good faith, but did not handle the job in the right way," Boothe said.

Smith said she was told to file the affidavit's with the Clerk of Court's Office instead of the DA's Office, but two of the affidavit's she turned in were missing.

"Thank goodness the Clerk of Court's Office asked me about making copies," Smith said. "And we have certified stamped copies.

The other affidavit was handled by Deputy Sheriff Dennis Cowan.

Boothe said Palmer's time away from home because of her job as a critical care nurse in Vicksburg two or three days a weeks has led to some neglect.

Palmer was originally charged with eight counts on the improper disposal of animal carcass, but Boothe reduced that charge to three. Boothe said the law requires that dead horses be burned or buried at least six feet with four feet of dirt on top.

Johnson called Jeanette Winborne to the stand for his final rebuttal. Winborne lives next to the field where Palmer's horses are kept.

Winborne testified that at one time there was a horse penned up with no water and she filled up a Rubbermaid container with water and placed it over the fence.

"I did it for about a week because there was no one there," she said.

Winborne also said she saw a live horse being dragged by a tractor to a self-storage unit near the highway, apparently because the horse could not stand and was cold, and also saw a dead horse dragged by a tractor to the other side of the levee.

Winborne said the horse was not burned or buried. She did not know who drove the tractor, but Palmer later identified her ex-husband, Charlie Palmer, as the driver.

Johnson said Debbie Palmer and Charlie Palmer are in litigation over ownership of the horses. Charlie Palmer was excused from the courtroom by Boothe when Debbie Palmer was testifying.

"You have gesticulated during the trial and talking to everyone during the breaks," Boothe said. "You are excused from this courtroom."

It was also brought up at the trial that over the past two years one of Palmer's horse was killed after getting loose on the highway, while another was caught in a cattle gap and died when it became impaled by an iron rod.

Johnson's other witnesses included Joey Norman of Rhinehart, an Animal Cruelty Investigator with the Louisiana Department of Agriculture Brand Division. Norman said when he went to the scene on April 12 there was one water trough that was overturned, no feed troughs and that the fence was in poor condition.

Norman said there was one emaciated paint mare with only one eye and the other eye was punctured and draining. She had a stallion following her. He said he returned on August 4 and nothing had been done and he advised Palmer to get Coggins tests done on the horses.

Deputy Sheriff Deborah Burcham testified Palmer called her and left a message asking where her horses were. "She said those were her horses?" Johnson asked. "Yes," Burcham replied.

The horses were seized and turned over to Debra Barlow, president of Hopeful Haven Equine Rescue Organization in Shreveport, who took the horses and found foster care for them, keeping one at her house because it was not gilded.

Barlow said the horses were in poor shape but began to gain weight and regain their spirit under their care. She also said she took the stallion with the eye punctured to Northwest Louisiana Veterinarian Clinic and was told the eye needed to come out.

Hopeful Haven paid $1,505 for the procedure and is seeking restitution. Dara Sikora, a volunteer with Hopeful Haven, kept Cissy.

"She was nothing but skin and bones and she could barely stand," Sikora said. "We put about 150 pounds on her and she was enjoying playing with my kids and trotting around the yard."

Sikora said Cissy died from heart failed. "If we would have gotten her earlier, we might could have saved her," Sikora said.

The state rested and Lemke made an oral motion for judgment of acquittal, which was denied.

While the lawyers were at the judge's bench, Palmer left the courtroom, returning shortly after with tissues.

Lemke called Palmer's mother, Catherine McGlothin, and nephew Michael McGlothin to the stand. Both said they helped Palmer with the horses, saying they were properly kept. Georgia Ann Drummer, Jennifer Davis and Delena Tradewell also testified, saying they had horses on the property, as well and the horses were well kept.

When asked by Johnson, Tradewell did say Dr. Justin Gregg told her that Palmer was not using proper procedures as far as the correct amount of doses for medicines given to the horses.

Palmer took the stand and said the horses were in good shape in December of 2004 until they returned from being held by the Sheriff's Department.

She said one of the horses' eyes was fine until it was returned from CAWS, although earlier testimony from her mother said the eye was injured when it was kicked by another horse.

Palmer said she had planned to give her horses Coggins tests the day after they were seized but had not before because they stayed on the property. Palmer broke down shortly when asked by Lemke about the first time she was charged with cruelty to animals.

She said the dead horse's bones were kept in her freezer because he was shot and she was going to find out who did it. She also said some dead horses that had wandered off had been sucked into the intake valves at the Ferriday Water Plant and had to be pulled out."

Smith said the horse in the freezer was the colt that was impaled 24 hours after it was returned to Palmer, but she did not think it was shot.

Source: The Concordia Sentinel - Nov 22, 2006
Update posted on Dec 10, 2006 - 1:51PM

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District Attorney John Johnson dropped the animal cruelty charges against Debbie Palmer Wednesday, but it�s not over yet.

"I intend to re-file and make a complete investigation and then I'm going to take over the prosecution myself," Johnson said. �I want a give the judge a good case and something he can stand on and feel good about."

Palmer, arrested in February on cruelty to animal charges, was to be tried Thursday. Johnson said he dismissed all charges that exist at this time. The trial will begin at a later date.

Seventh District Judge Leo Boothe presides in the case and granted the motion after no objections from the Palmer�s attorney, Paul Lemke were received. Booth ordered the sheriff�s department to constantly supervise the well being of the horses until the case is resolved.

"The courts main concern is that the horses are cared for and the fences are maintained," Boothe said.

On April 12, Boothe found Palmer guilty on three charges of animals at large involving incidents on U.S. 65/84 � one of which ended with an SUV hitting and killing a horse on Jan. 8 � and on Louisiana 3219. Three other counts were found not to fit the statute they were prosecuted under and dismissed.

Today�s trial dismissed 10 charges of animal cruelty and one charge of simple criminal damage to property. Concordia Animal Welfare animal control officers served Palmer, 930 Eagle Road in Vidalia, a warrant in early April. She spent one night in jail as a result of the warrant arrest.

Following warrants officers removed some of Palmer�s approximately 50 horses from her care. In May, Boothe ordered the horses to be seized from her to be returned pending the outcome of a May 24 hearing.

The statute under which Palmer was convicted in the first three charges does not call for jail time, making a fine and or community service a likely penalty. More charges are expected to arise during the investigation, Johnson said.

�There is definitely a pattern for abuse here and I�m going to look at it,� he said.

The Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry will now be asked to lead an investigation into the matter, Johnson said. Joey Norman will lead the special investigation, he said.

Source: Natchez Democrat - July 17, 2006
Update posted on Jul 17, 2006 - 8:07AM

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The case against Debbie Palmer was set to continue in a Concordia Parish courtroom Wednesday morning but was postponed until July.

Palmer, arrested in February on cruelty to animal charges, was to be sentenced Tuesday on a conviction in three of the charges. She was also set to go to trial on 10 more counts.

On April 12, Seventh District Judge Leo Boothe found Palmer guilty on three charges of animals at large involving incidents on U.S. 65/84 � one of which ended with an SUV hitting and killing a horse on Jan. 8 � and on Louisiana 3219.

Three other counts were found not to fit the statute they were prosecuted under and were dismissed.

Tuesday�s trial was to encompass 10 charges of cruelty to animals and one of simple criminal damage to property.

Palmer, 930 Eagle Road in Vidalia, was served a warrant by Concordia Animal Welfare animal control officers in early April. She spent one night in jail as a result of the warrant arrest.

Following warrants removed some of Palmer�s approximately 50 horses from her care.

In May, Boothe ordered the horses seized from her to be returned pending the outcome of a May 24 hearing.

Palmer will be tried on the remaining 10 counts and face sentencing on July 13.

The statute under which Palmer was convicted in the first three charges does not call for jail time, making a fine and/or community service a likely penalty.

Source: Natchez Demiocrat - June 13, 2006
Update posted on Jun 14, 2006 - 8:50PM

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The case against Debbie Palmer is one Judge Leo Boothe feels needs attention, animal or not.

Palmer, arrested in February on cruelty to animal charges, will face 10 counts of animal cruelty and face sentencing on July 13.

But Boothe � the Seventh District judge � has made sure the issue doesn�t lay dormant between now and then.

�I told the sheriff�s office to supervise her, to check fences and make sure her animals are taken care of,� Boothe said. �She�s an animal herself, but deserves to be treated fairly.�

On April 12, Boothe found Palmer guilty on three charges of animals at large involving incidents on U.S. 65/84 and Louisiana 3219. In one of the incidents on Jan. 8, a horse was hit and killed by a vehicle.

Palmer, 930 Eagle Road, Vidalia, was served a warrant by Concordia Animal Welfare animal control officers in early April. She spent one night in jail as a result of the warrant arrest. Following warrants, some of Palmer�s 50 horses were removed from her care. Boothe ordered the horse seized from her to be returned pending the case�s outcome.

�We are just trying to make sure the animals are treated fairly, due process is followed and justice prevails,� Boothe said.

The statute under which Palmer was convicted in the first three charges does not call for jail time, making a fine and/or community service a likely penalty.

Source: The Natchez Democrat, June 1, 2006
Update posted on Jun 14, 2006 - 6:39PM

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Vidalia � The case against Debbie Palmer is one Judge Leo Boothe feels needs attention, animal or not.

Palmer, arrested in February on cruelty to animal charges, will face 10 counts of animal cruelty and face sentencing on July 13.

But Boothe � the Seventh District judge � has made sure the issue doesn�t lay dormant between now and then.

�I told the sheriff�s office to supervise her, to check fences and make sure her animals are taken care of,� Boothe said. �She�s an animal herself, but deserves to be treated fairly.�

On April 12, Boothe found Palmer guilty on three charges of animals at large involving incidents on U.S. 65/84 and Louisiana 3219. In one of the incidents on Jan. 8, a horse was hit and killed by a vehicle.

Palmer, 930 Eagle Road, Vidalia, was served a warrant by Concordia Animal Welfare animal control officers in early April. She spent one night in jail as a result of the warrant arrest. Following warrants, some of Palmer�s 50 horses were removed from her care. Boothe ordered the horse seized from her to be returned pending the case�s outcome.

�We are just trying to make sure the animals are treated fairly, due process is followed and justice prevails,� Boothe said.

The statute under which Palmer was convicted in the first three charges does not call for jail time, making a fine and/or community service a likely penalty.

Source: The Natchez Democrat, June 1, 2006
Update posted on Jun 5, 2006 - 2:29AM

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A hearing was held on April 26, no evidence was heard even though 44 affidavits for animal cruelty were filed. The Concordia Animal Welfare Shelter, the complainant, was not notified of the hearing. According to reports, the judge heard no arguments, and the DA office made no arguments at the hearing.

The judge turned the horses, evidence in a cruelty case, back over to the defendant.

Another hearing is scheduled for May 24, 2006. Concordia Animal Welfare is hopeful that the prosecutor will at this time decide to present the evidence on the 44 horses as well as additional evidence that has not yet been made public.

The ADA handling the case is:

Andy Magoun
4001 Carterville Rd
Vidalia, LA 71373
Phone: 318-336-5526

Source: Concordia Animal Welfare
Update posted on May 6, 2006 - 4:34PM

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Horse neglect - approx 50 to be seizedVidalia, LA (US)

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Horse neglect - approx 50 to be seized
Vidalia, LA (US)