[wyldterv]

This is just beyond reprehensible... It is NEVER OK for someone to starve, neglect and/or abuse animals, but for it to be someone who is an Agricultural Assistant Commissioner for the STATE, is well, beyond words of contempt...


http://www.startribune.com/16109942.html

COLUMBIA, S.C. - A top South Carolina agriculture official and two of his relatives are accused of mistreating dozens of horses here and in Georgia, where authorities described some of the animals as looking like someone "draped a hide over bones."
James Trexler, one of South Carolina's three assistant agriculture commissioners, was charged this week with five counts of ill treatment of animals. Authorities said five horses on his Hopkins property were found without food in stalls filled with manure and mud.
Trexler, who was suspended without pay from the job he's held since 2003, was released from jail Thursday on bond. His mother, Hazelene Trexler, and brother Terry Trexler remained behind bars because they are considered fugitives in Georgia. Both were charged there with 30 counts of animal cruelty, authorities said.
In October, investigators found about 70 Arabian horses, including one already dead, on about 75 acres in Jefferson County, Ga., sheriff's deputy Jimmy Kitchens said.
"They looked like you just draped a hide over bones," Kitchens said. "I used to raise and train quarter horses, and I've never seen anything like this before. If paperwork could've been done quicker, there'd be more charges."
None of the Trexlers could be reached for comment Thursday. No one answered the door at James Trexler's home. No one answered the phone at a listing for him and a message could not be left.
An attorney named by the Trexlers at the bond hearing said he was not representing them. The phones for several Sumter businesses listed under Terry Trexler's name had been disconnected.
The more than 20 horses seized Monday on property the mother and younger Trexler lease in Eastover, S.C., were so malnourished that their ribs were showing, said Lt. Chris Cowan, a Richland County, S.C., sheriff's spokesman.
None of the horses was at optimum weight and all shared a 15-gallon trough of water, officials said.
Kelly Graham, a spokeswoman for the Humane Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, said the organization did not find any food at the property or hay in the pasture. "The field was just mud. There was no grass at all," Graham said.
Hazelene Trexler, 70, is charged with 28 counts of ill treatment to animals, and Terry Trexler, 44, faces 23 counts of ill treatment to animals in South Carolina.
A tip led officials to investigate James Trexler's property on Tuesday, Graham said.
All 28 horses taken from the Trexlers, including a pregnant mare, are in veterinarian care and are expected to make full recoveries. The Humane Society plans to seek custody of them and eventually find people to adopt them, Graham said.
Terry Trexler also faces a kidnapping charge. Deputies said he refused to let a Humane Society investigator leave when she came to the pasture this month with a camera to follow up on a tip. At the time, he claimed he was his brother, James, officials said.
Terry Trexler, a former lawyer, was disbarred by the South Carolina Supreme Court in January 2001 for misconduct in two dozen cases and his conviction on breach of trust.
As director of administration for the Agriculture Department, James Trexler oversaw budgeting and procurement, information technology, auditing, payroll and mailing services, agency spokesman Stephen Hudson said. He declined to comment on the charges.
James Trexler was hired under former Agriculture Commissioner Charlie Sharpe, who resigned in 2005 after admitting he took a $10,000 bribe to protect a cockfighting ring.
(This version CORRECTS Corrects to Eastover, S.C., sted Ga. ADDS other reasons for Terry Trexler's disbarment.)

[DarkChylde]

Ummm. This is bad.

[wyldterv]

Originally Posted by DarkChylde

Ummm. This is bad.

Yes it is indeed bad... it's even worse though because this was done by someone who is a State Official in the Agriculture Department What was even MORE disgusting (if that's possible) was when you read through the entire story, you see at the bottom of it the the person who HIRED this guy to begin with had to resign from Head of Ag with the state a few years ago because he admitted to taking a $10,000 bribe to PROTECT a C0ck fighting Ring (fighting Roosters ) Obviously there is a fair amount of corruption with in the Ag department of South Carolina at this point in time and it's at at time when ALL animal owners need solid leadership in these venues

[Haas Horse Farm]

This is further proof that we have enough horse welfare problems in the US that we do not need to import horses from other countries... we have lots here in the US that needs help. It is sad when people cannot be trusted to do their jobs. It is very sad but I cannot say I am surprised.

[MidnightStarr]

That is absolutley disgusting

ughh.. people infiriate(sp?) me!!

[Stormyheart6160]

Wyld...you beat me to it! I just got home from work, and had this story in my email, and was gonna post it.

If we can't trust the AG people.....

I can't even comprehend this right now, so I'll save my comments for a later date.

Thanks for posting the article tho.

[wyldterv]

Originally Posted by Haas Horse Farm

This is further proof that we have enough horse welfare problems in the US that we do not need to import horses from other countries... we have lots here in the US that needs help. It is sad when people cannot be trusted to do their jobs. It is very sad but I cannot say I am surprised.

OK Mary, I can usually understand your posts easily but this one had me going "HUH??? " LOL can you please spell out more clearly for me what you mean by we do not need to import horses from other countries???

Because personally I am all for open importation and exportation of horses as we can keep bloodlines more varient that way

Are you trying to compare how SPCA and HSUS has been known to import small breed dogs and puppies that are unwanted into other countries to put in our own "pounds" to provide a supply for the demand that is out there? THAT I full detest

[Haas Horse Farm]

There are certain members on this forum that think that we need to import PMU horses from Canada into the US to "save" them... I was just wanting to say as I always do that we have enough locally that need help. Here is a perfect case and point.

You know as a breeder that sells horses overseas I am not against it. I have sold horses to Mexico and bought several horses that were already imported from Canada....

I just detest what you detest when rescue groups BUY horses from outside the country to rescue them... instead of saving what is already here! Make sense?

[wyldterv]

Originally Posted by Haas Horse Farm

There are certain members on this forum that think that we need to import PMU horses from Canada into the US to "save" them... I was just wanting to say as I always do that we have enough locally that need help. Here is a perfect case and point.

You know as a breeder that sells horses overseas I am not against it. I have sold horses to Mexico and bought several horses that were already imported from Canada....

I just detest what you detest when rescue groups BUY horses from outside the country to rescue them... instead of saving what is already here! Make sense?

Yes Mary, thank you for the clarification I can usually see what you mean right off, just this once I was doing a bit of noggin' scratching

I have always said "adopt the children in the US that need homes FIRST before you go adopting elsewhere as aren't the US children just as deserving of a good home as from some other country?" and if You are wanting to adopt a dog, adopt one from right here and the same goes for horses... Once we have NO MORE that needs adopting in this country THEN yes, look outside the borders

[Stormyheart6160]

Originally Posted by Haas Horse Farm

There are certain members on this forum that think that we need to import PMU horses from Canada into the US to "save" them... I was just wanting to say as I always do that we have enough locally that need help. Here is a perfect case and point.

You know as a breeder that sells horses overseas I am not against it. I have sold horses to Mexico and bought several horses that were already imported from Canada....

I just detest what you detest when rescue groups BUY horses from outside the country to rescue them... instead of saving what is already here! Make sense?

Mary....while I 100% agree with you on the issue of bringing "rescue" horses from other countries here, when we have so many needing rescued here in the states already......something did occur to me, and I'd like your thoughts on it, if you don't mind?

If you sell horses to Mexico, you added another horse to their population, and we all know what happens to useless horses in that country. What would be wrong with also bringing a horse out of Mexico as a rescue, since we are adding to their population? The same goes for Canada?