11 horses found dead on property Stuart, VA (US) Incident Date: Friday, Sep 30, 2005 County: Patrick Local Map: available Disposition: Not Charged Case Images: 2 files available Abuser names unreleased

Case ID: 8731 Classification: Neglect / Abandonment Animal: horse View more cases in VA (US) Login to Watch this Case

In October 2005, humane officials were notified of a Stuart, Virginia, resident�s alleged and ongoing severe neglect of some of the estimated 30 horses on his 401 Green Hill Ln. property. Complainants reportedly claimed that three mares were slowly being starved to death on the property and that a foal was left suffering alongside them with an untreated, broken leg.

Conditions for the animals on the property have evidently long been a concern for area residents. Eleven horses had previously been found dead at this location, complainants reportedly say, while other horses have been shot and killed after suffering for days with a broken leg, struck and killed by a vehicle after wandering onto the highway, and left to die a slow death after falling through a fence. Law enforcement officials instructed the suspect on how to properly care for his horses last fall.

Several months later, two of the three mares were found dead. On April 27, 2006, reports and photographic documentation surfaced suggesting that animals continue to suffer on the property in question. Because the commonwealth�s attorney for surrounding Patrick County attends the same church as the suspect, The Honorable Clifford Hapgood�the lead prosecutor for nearby Franklin County�was given jurisdiction over this case. According to complainants, Hapgood has yet to take meaningful action regarding these animals� current conditions and the alleged string of deaths on the property.

Please urge Hapgood to promptly investigate these allegations and file charges as appropriate. Ask him to order that a veterinarian immediately inspect all the animals on this property so that any who may need immediate care can be taken into protective custody:

The Honorable Clifford Hapgood
Office of the Commonwealth�s Attorney, Franklin County
275 S. Main St., Ste. 33
Rocky Mount, VA 24151
540-483-3092
540-483-3094 (fax)
[email protected] 

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References

Helping Animals News - May 2006

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