HOPKINS COUNTY, KY NOVEMBER 2012

3 horses die in one of the worst animal cruelty cases in Hopkins Co.

 Posted: Nov 26, 2012 5:43 PM EST Updated: Dec 03, 2012 5:43 PM EST

By Brett Hoffland - bio | email

Posted by Kara Mattingly - bio | email

 

Daniel Carter. Source: Hopkins County Jail

 

Authorities say Carter neglected dozens of animals on his property, all the way from six horses to a wide range of farm animals.

HOPKINS CO., KY (WFIE) -

Three horses were found dead at a residence in Hopkins County, and it's being called one worst cases of animal cruelty in the county.

31-year-old Daniel Carter of Dawson Springs has pleaded guilty to six counts of animal cruelty in the case. He'll serve 20 days in jail.

Authorities say Carter neglected dozens of animals on his property, all the way from six horses to a wide range of farm animals.
About a year ago, the humane society says they started receiving calls about possible animal neglect at the Carter's home on Nortonville Road in Dawsons Springs. Humane Society Director Charles Gentry says Carter and his wife told them they were an running an animal rescue operation.
"We tried to give them as much time and opportunity to show us that is truly what they were doing. They had several animals that were in poor condition but they indicated to us they received them in that condition," Gentry said.
Over time, Gentry says the condition of the animals worsened.
"We came to realize that it was just blatant neglect," Gentry said.
Officials found three horses had died under Carter's care. They seized the remaining three, but Gentry says they weren't much better.
"Body condition scores of around a two and that's two out of 10. One being probably going to die any second," Gentry said.
Officials say they also found other animals including dogs, pigs, and peacocks on Carter's property.
"We were able to seize all of those animals and obviously protect other animals besides just these horses because they were in the care and custody of irresponsible animal owners," said Hopkins County Attorney Todd P'Pool.
Daniel Carter will serve about three weeks in jail. Both he and his wife are now on probation and aren't allowed to own any animals for two years.
"If you own animals in Hopkins County and you fail to properly take care of them, you will face jail time," P'Pool said.
Carter's jail sentence begins on January 2nd.
As for all those rescued animals, the humane society says they're receiving care at local foster homes and he hopes to put them up for adoption soon.

 14 News

HENRY COUNTY, KY APRIL 2012

Henry County Woman Gets 60 Days In Animal Cruelty Case


Posted: Apr 16, 2012 3:58 PM
Updated: Apr 16, 2012 5:07 PM

A Henry County woman charged with over 200 counts of animal abuse after a variety of animals were found on her property in December living in deplorable conditions has been sentenced to 60 days in jail in the case.

Terri Smith, who plead guilty to one of the counts against her, was also ordered to pay almost $9,500 in restitution in the case. Officials say the animals, including 120 dogs (one of which was deceased living in a cage with live dogs walking all over it), 30 cats, 58 rabbits, 25 hermit crabs, 9 horses, 10 guinea pigs, 6 hamsters, a wolf hybrid, an owl, several birds and three geese were found at Smith's Allyson Lane home in Henry County.

The judge in the case also refused to return any of the animals back to Smith.

Smith's husband, 71-year-old Kenneth H. Smith, committed suicide shortly after their arrests.

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HENDERSON COUNTY, KY APRIL 2012

Henderson Co. horse owner under investigation for second time

Posted: Apr 12, 2012 6:31 PM EDT
Updated: Apr 19, 2012 6:31 PM EDT

HENDERSON CO, KY (WFIE) - Henderson County Officials were out Thursday, looking into a complaint on the care of dozens of horses and animal control says this isn't the first time they've been out to this Reed, Kentucky farm.

No horses were seized this afternoon on the property on New Road, but Animal Control says they'll be keeping an eye out to make sure some nutrition and cleanliness issues improve.

Thursday afternoon, Henderson County Animal Control, the Sheriff's Office and a veterinarian were all on the scene after receiving their second complaint this year about the care of over 20 horses.

Animal Control says the horses belong to Richard Stallings. Stallings was found guilty in '08 on 50 counts of mistreating horses.

The owner of a horse sanctuary working with Animal Control says Thursday, there are some issues with the cleanliness of stalls and what the horses are eating.

"The conditions are not ideal of what we'd like to see for the horses but you know, it's not something that can't be fixed and we are working with them to make sure that, you know, that they do understand that there are certain things that we are going to expect over the next thirty days to be corrected," said Shelter Operations Director for the Humane Society of Henderson County Joshua Cromer.

Animal Control took some photos Thursday, documenting the horses' condition and taking food samples.

They tell 14 News they'll be back out in 30 days to see if the situation improves. If nothing changes, they say those horses could be taken away.

Related stories:
•Horse neglect: Stallings pleads guilty
•Suspected horse abuser opts for jury trial


WAVE3

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HOPKINS COUNTY, KY JULY 2011

Possible horse cruelty case being investigated in Madisonville

MADISONVILLE, KY (WFIE) -
Authorities in Madisonville are investigating a possible animal neglect case. Investigators say they've received several complaints that some horses are being underfed, and need medical treatment.

Resident Hazel Fell received calls from friends complaining about the condition of a group of horses on a nearby farm.

Several weeks after, Fell went to the farm to check up on the horses condition. She saw no improvement, and took several photos. Fell then filed her own complaint to the humane society.

The horses are owned by Rob and Bonnie Ryder on a private farm off Randall Drive. Fell says the problem is that they live in Canada, and all responsibility to the horses is left to a caretaker.
It's unknown how much the horses are visited, but Fell says she's most upset that nothing was done before her complaint.

Humane society officials say they have been monitoring the situation. In fact, soon after the latest complaint, they sent a veterinarian out to check on the horses and meet with the caretaker. The caretaker now has 30 days to improve the health of the horses.

Humane society officials declined to speak while the investigation is ongoing, but stress the fact that they haven't ignored any complaints, and are working with law enforcement to resolve the issue.

Hopkins County Public Works officials say last month, they picked up one horse from that property that had died, but it's unclear what the cause of death was.

Humane society officials say plenty of food and hay have been donated to the horses while the investigation continues.

Officials say after the 30 days, they'll re-evaluate the condition of the horses, and if there are no improvements, disciplinary action will be taken.

WFIE

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BATH COUNTY, KY JULY 2011

Two men accused of dragging horse appear in court

Two men appeared in court Tuesday to face charges they dragged a horse.

Bath County Sheriff's deputies cited Jeffrey White and Jason Crouch for second-degree cruelty to animals.

Crouch's public defender entered a not guilty plea on his behalf Tuesday.

White will be arraigned later. He's now being held in the Montgomery County Jail on unrelated charges.

Investigators say White and Crouch tied the horse to the back of their car after White bought the animal, to get it to White's home.

Animal control officials took the five-year-old stallion to a farm, where they have named the horse Lucky.

The horse is now recovering.

If found guilty, Crouch and White could face up to a year in jail.


WKYT

Pre trial date set for November 15th: WKYT

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HARRISON COUNTY, KY April 2011

Here we go again. After being charged in 2008 and ordered not to own any horses for two years, the Risners of Harrison County are at it again.

Officials question condition of horses

By Becky Barnes
Thursday, April 28, 2011 at 10:55 am

It’s been more than a year since court-ordered restrictions for having horses on their property expired, but more horses have been found in alleged poor condition at Dinah and Haskel Risner’s farm.

Harrison County Sheriff’s Deputy Robert Peak said when he arrived at the Oddville-Sunrise Road farm Sunday afternoon he found two horses down, including one that was lying in the road.
“It had collapsed at the fence and slid under the fence, off of an earth embankment and into the road,” Peak said.

The other horse was on its side inside a 100-foot-by-50-foot lot.

Dinah Risner attributed the horses being unable to get up to the rainy, muddy conditions.
“There was no grass, no hay, no water, even with all the rain we’ve had there wasn’t even a puddle,” Peak said.

Peak was joined at the scene by the Kentucky State Police as well as an investigator from the Kentucky Veterinary Office with the Department of Agriculture and local veterinarian Dr. James Rice.

He said the veterinarians were able to get the horses on their feet. Hay and water were brought in and the animals were eating and drinking when officials left.

Peak said there were two other horses in the lot as well, and 15 on the property.
Tpr. Chris Gaby said the horses in the lot were obviously in poor condition.

Peak said the animals had patches of hair loss and open sores. Their ribs were palpable, they had lice and little to no flesh.

Peak said that charges against the Risners are pending.

The couple was charged in February 2008 on a case that was opened in 2007.
The Risners contended they were only trying to help rescue horses that had been neglected.
They would purchase the horses, then attempt to bring them to a healthy weight, Dinah Risner defended during the previous incident.

In a telephone interview Wednesday morning, Dinah said the horses were moved to that lot Sunday morning when they were given worm medicine. She added that the horses had only been in the lot for about two hours and had not intended to be left there for an extended period.
“They got down on account of the bad weather,” she said. “This muddy weather they just get down and get back up.”

She said the horses have since been turned out into a 20-acre field.

She said the horses were purchased at Paris Stockyards on March 19. One horse was given to the Risners free of charge. Two others were purchased for $2.50 each.

Cynthiana Democrat

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LINCOLN COUNTY, KY MARCH 2011

HORSES LEFT UNATTENDED IN LINCOLN COUNTY

People who live along Spice Ridge Road in Lincoln County say nobody has been taking care of 40 to 50 horses for more than a month.

Neighbors describe the animals as malnourished and say that they wander around street. They complain nothing is being done to help. "There ain't nobody who wants to claim them, or take care of them, or feed them, or anything else, just letting them run wherever they want to," Jesse Turner said.

The Lincoln County Sheriff says the horses belong to Walter Smith, who used to own the property. Deputies say they have been in contact with Smith and are investigating the allegations.


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