[Blistering Winds]

Wow, interesting story.

Someone mentioned trailering law trying to pass in texas. I can't find it. If you find the information, PLEASE send it to me so I can pass it to the various people and a few others that can look deeper into it.....that and contact my own rep about it......

I'll look more into it from my side, but if you have at least a bill number, I'd appreciate it.

Cause after a quick search from texas legislation site, there isn't anything on trailering changes. We are having or had the animal cruelty changed recently. But the 24 hours on a trailer is still in effect according to Jerry at LSER/HFH.


Anyways, thank you for your statements. It does make you look at the issue outside the media and hype sometimes.

[cheekypony]

hey guys, i havnt read the whole thread but i know whats going. i went through the same thing with animal control when i purchased my 5yo tb mare bag of bones. the AC got involved n accused me of neglected and wanted me to put my mare down becase she was to skinny even after i got her vet checked twice which came back clear (got blood tests n everything) but it was not good enough they still wanted her to be put down even though she was putting weght on slowly. some ppl have no idea. so dont jump to conclsions if u dont know both sides of the story. these guys have probably done nothing wrong. to be honest i feel a bit sorry for em and agree with truthteller.

[mustangmari7]

Truthteller and OlympicNative. I have a question. How LONG was Elvis' hip fractured? Where's the proof that anything was ever done to help him, before AC got involved?

Farm Bureau wrote a front page story on this farm, it was not in favor of the farm owners.

I think there is enough stretching of the truth by both sides.

AQHA and APHA need to start watching its members. Like the AKC does.

This will not be the last we see of cases like this in the state of Michigan. The economy here is terrible. This winter could be traggic. I am already being offered at least 1 FREE horse a month, because people don't have the money to take care of their animals.

The whole situation is sad.

[truthteller]

Originally Posted by mustangmari7

Truthteller and OlympicNative. I have a question. How LONG was Elvis' hip fractured? Where's the proof that anything was ever done to help him, before AC got involved?

Farm Bureau wrote a front page story on this farm, it was not in favor of the farm owners.

I think there is enough stretching of the truth by both sides.

AQHA and APHA need to start watching its members. Like the AKC does.

This will not be the last we see of cases like this in the state of Michigan. The economy here is terrible. This winter could be traggic. I am already being offered at least 1 FREE horse a month, because people don't have the money to take care of their animals.

The whole situation is sad.

Well the picture from 3/14/07 speaks volumes.

Farm Bureau did write a story. Of course that author did not investigate the whole story. He went with what the other media outlets wrote, which were lies spread by AC.

There is proof in testimony and letters that the horse had not 1, but 2 appointments that were cancelled by Animal Control.

[truthteller]

This was not a case of not being able to pay for feed.

There was testimony by 2 hay farmers that Matt was a regular customer. The round bale guy testified to him being there at least 3 times a week getting round bales.

I know he did not put up all of his winter hay because he was in a cast last year for hay season, so he had to go and get it weekly.

[3WishesDun]

I do have to wonder this......
It seems that Animal Control (not specifically this one) will usually "work" with owners in cases of suspected abuse/neglect. And often I see the exact opposite of what went on in this case.

There is a long, drawn-out period of checking in, education (often abuse/neglect is a matter of ignorance and not always malice-again not talking about this case), and it is a pretty long time before they finally step in and remove an animal. Here, it appears there was a rush to judgement and a very fast response to take possession of this herd. I wonder if this is the norm for this Animal Control division or if it indeed does have to do with the quality/value of the animals. I do sincerely hope that this trial brings the truth to light, and that the horses prevail.

[mustangmari7]

Truthteller and OlympicNative. I have a question. How LONG was Elvis' hip fractured?

[OlympiaNative]

I am not sure, Trueth Teller might can answer that better then I can, I do know they were going to take him to the vet to have him looked after, but the AC cancelled the vet appointments. That one I am not sure about, I do know though, the pics of him from before and after siezure are terrible.

I am not saying Matt and Jim did everything right, but I am saying, the AC did more wrong. The problem for me is that they are trying to get papers on the horses and they shouldn't be trying to do that.

[Top Dun]

Found this website:
see select quotes
Pet-Abuse.Com - Animal Abuse Case Details: Horse neglect - 69 seized - Grass Lake Township, MI (US)

It appears there is a significant difference of opinion as to whether the animals were properly cared for,'' Hurst said.

In the letter, Robert Sray, a veterinarian with Northwest Veterinary Clinic in Jackson, said that he visited the farm March 16 and found ample water and food for the horses. He said three were in poor condition, but two of them were more than 25 years old and all three were responsive and eating hay.

Sray also wrote that most of the horses in a herd of 40 were in good to fair condition, with no signs of illness and injury, and several mares were due to foal in the next few months.

The 2-year-old filly was treated by Dr. James Irving of Oakdale Large Animal Clinic for a wire cut on its hind leg. The animal was taken there at the request of the horses' owners, Matthew Mercier and James Henderson Jr., who are charged with animal neglect.

"We wanted to make absolutely sure she was going to be seen by the best," Henderson said. "It's very unfortunate that the animal suffered."

The horse was taken to the clinic by Jackson County Animal Control and Mercier, then was taken back to the farm to the care of Animal Control. The filly's body condition was about a 3 on a 9-point scale, with 9 being obese, Irving said.

"She looked like a horse that wintered outside in Michigan," he said.

Henderson also said he was not informed the colt was euthanized until after the fact -- a reason they fought Animal Control to care for this horse.

"If a vet said that he had to be euthanized I would have listened, but I would have liked to have had an opinion," he said. "I would have had him seen by an independent specialist."

Animal Control seized the Turn-3 Ranch horses last month. Veterinarians with the state Department of Agriculture said the horses were malnourished and suffered from "obvious neglect."

But a vet for the owners said most of the horses were in fair to good condition.

[Top Dun]

Plus this-
MLive.com: Everything Michigan

A forfeiture hearing is in process to determine who will get custody of the horses. Acting county Administrator Randy Treacher said he doesn't yet know what the county will do if it is given custody.
"We certainly wouldn't keep them," he said. "We'll decide that if it comes to that."

Hugs2Horses News Center

This was my second visit to the site, and it turned into an all day affair yesterday on the 24th of April. After nearly three weeks of feeding and care the horses still looked exactly as they did the first time I previewed them. It was a gut wrenching sight to see so many horses in one spot starved nearly to death.

Interesting on this blog since I haven't seen photos online of any of the horses yet other than the ones posted here and I don't see " starved to death" horses ??
So far NO where on the internet yet have I been able to find photos other than ones posted here and one other forum.