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Post by schwung on Jun 25, 2007 1:38:37 GMT -5
"Rusty" is one of two horses that SAFE is taking on that came out of a siezure in Skagit County last week. Two rescues, Equine Aid in Monroe and New Beginnings Horse Rescue in Camano Island took 22 horses off the property last week. SAFE was asked by Equine Aid to help with a couple of geldings as they were over capacity with all the extra horses. As this is a siezure situation, at this time SAFE is merely housing and caring for the animals on behalf of Skagit County Animal Control. We will not be able to offer them for adoption until the resolution of the case against the owner of the horses. Rusty is a "Paint-that-ain't" chestnut gelding, age unknown but believed to be under 10 years old. He is in actually very good shape - the horses were siezed due to unsafe living conditions, although there are some neglect charges being added on as well, as some of the animals are in poor shape. Rusty however is in good weight, is sound and appears to be in good health, other than being infested with lice as were all the horses on the property. Rusty has a blaze, four white socks, and one blue eye. He is sweet, friendly, and easy to handle. Rusty came to my farm today along with his palomino buddy, and are currently in quarantine in my front pasture. They will get treated for lice and in a couple of weeks go down to Winterlakesfarm for fostering. More info on Rusty coming soon!
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Post by schwung on Jun 25, 2007 10:09:22 GMT -5
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jolt1
New BB Member
Posts: 35
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Post by jolt1 on Jun 25, 2007 14:08:43 GMT -5
He looks good for being in a place like that. Nice and fat, feet look good. Well hopefully the charges will be laid against that woman and banned from owning any horses or livestock. He is really gorgeous.
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Post by Angel62197 on Jun 25, 2007 16:30:18 GMT -5
Refreshing to see them rescued before it's too late... he's a truly beautiful horse.
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horsefreakjb
Junior BB Member
.x. just jump it .x.
Posts: 71
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Post by horsefreakjb on Jun 25, 2007 17:29:04 GMT -5
What a stunning horse! All horses are beautiful, but sometimes you see one that just takes your breath away...Rusy is one of those horses. Thank you for doing what you guys do...giving horses like this a new chance at happiness.
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Post by jellybelly on Jun 30, 2007 11:14:16 GMT -5
He is a nice horse. Does not look to be in bad shape either.
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shekaberry
SAFE Volunteer
SAFE Volunteer Coordinator
Posts: 1,521
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Post by shekaberry on Jul 2, 2007 14:41:18 GMT -5
Rusty is a very sweet guy, and his coat is so pretty in the sunshine; very coppery. I hope this person does not get these horses back!!
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Post by lizstabbertphoto on Jul 3, 2007 12:11:32 GMT -5
Hes so handsome! I'm not going to lie, I've got a crush on this one! I cant imagine his handsome face peering out around junked cars and garbage
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Post by winterlakesfarm on Jul 3, 2007 12:27:32 GMT -5
I know how hard it is but don't get attached!!!!! I have worked with animal control on a lot of these cases and without dramatic pictures to show a judge or jury they very well could go back to her or even go to auction to repay the county for the cost of prosecution unless she has the means to be forced to pay it herself.......these cases can literally drag on for over a year and there are no guarantees as to the outcome. Sigh. I am cautioning myself as much as anyone else as they will be in my pasture soon and I am already emotionally invested just after reading the volunteer's posts and seeing his pictures!
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Post by schwung on Jul 15, 2007 16:54:20 GMT -5
Update on the case, I have been told there is a plea hearing on July 17th (this Tuesday). The owner has petitioned for ownership of the horse, which could make her liable for all their expenses to date, regardless of whether she is found guilty or innocent. I have been told that the reason Rusty looks so good (he is the one mentioned as being in good shape), is that he only arrived at the owner's property a few days before the seizure. Here is an article: www.goskagit.com/index.php/news/article/animal_cruelty_charges_brought_in_horse_case/Animal cruelty charges brought in horse case
Margaret Friedenauer Skagit Valley Herald July 14, 2007 - 07:45 AM
Comments (0) | Email Story | Print Story | Share This Story: [?] ADVERTISEMENT: A Skagit County woman has been charged with animal cruelty after nearly two dozen horses were removed from her property.
Beverly Ouellet was charged June 21 with one count of second-degree animal cruelty and 23 counts of transporting or confining the animals in an unsafe manner.
Ouellet will address the charges in district court in early August.
Twenty-two horses taken from Ouellet’s property on June 14 remain in foster care, according to the county’s animal control officer Emily Diaz. One horse, a stallion named Drako, had to remain at the Cedardale Road property because of his aggressive nature.
Diaz and others were unable to approach or load the horse, which at the time Diaz wrote in her report was being kept in a “small stall ... filled with feces and urine,” and that its drinking water was dirty.
“It was very disappointing that we had to leave that one behind,” Diaz said.
She said she has since been to visit Drako, who was still confined to a stall, and that she plans to continue visits to Ouellet’s property to check on him.
“Since there’s only one there now, the level of care for him appeared to be better,” Diaz said.
Leading up to the charges against Ouellet, Diaz had visited the property, at just over two acres, several times in response to citizen reports regarding the health of the horses.
Diaz warned Ouellet that the horses were in an unsafe environment because of debris, shards of metal, abandoned cars, glass, downed loose barbed wire, downed electric wire, garbage, unkept stalls and “other things that are jeopardizing to the animals safety as well as the public,” she wrote in a affidavit.
In a registered letter sent April 12, Diaz gave Ouellet until June 1 to repair fencing and make her property safer for the animals.
But by June 14, the conditions had not substantially improved, and 22 horses were removed.
Each horse’s condition was documentby Dr. Pete Brown from Chuckanut Veterinarian Clinic as they were loaded into a trailer at Ouellet’s property. In Brown’s report, he said it was his opinion that the 23 horses were not being housed in a “safe, adequate facility.” He and Diaz noted the condition of the barn, where four horses were housed, as having limited bedding and a large amount of feces in each stall with an overwhelming stench of ammonia.
Brown determined that 19 of the horses had “low body condition” which can consist of poor nutrition, facilities, parasitism and other diseases. He documented finding lice and scars or lacerations on many of the horses. Some had distended abdomens and overgrown hoofs.
Brown listed two horses as in “overall good shape” and one with “no problems on exam.”
Ouellet said Friday she had not read the reports on the conditions of her horses, although she asked to see them. She maintains she did nothing wrong.
“It’s not against the law to have vehicles in your pasture,” she said.
Ultimately, she said she wants to have all 22 horses returned.
“That’s what I’m going for,” she said.
* Margaret Friedenauer can be reached at 360-416-2147 or mfriedenauer@skagitvalleyherald.com.
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Post by schwung on Jul 18, 2007 15:31:12 GMT -5
More on this, from Geri at Equine Aid:
Ms. Ouellet did have her plea hearing and petition the court for ownership. What that means for us is that she has told the court that she wants to retain ownership of the animals. That makes her liable for their expenses. Liable, but not necessarily required to pay them-the court has the option of deciding her level of financial responsibility whether she is found guilty or not guilty.
She has been charged with many civil and criminal charges in this case including inappropriate confinement and neglect. The trial for July 17th was delayed to July 23. The delay was due to a couple factors: Ms. Ouellet recently changed attorneys and the prosecutors combined her criminal and civil trials creating the need for more preparation time. Some of you may recall that her first attorney was quoted in the Skagit Valley Herald as having visited the property a couple days before the animals were seized and believing "the horses all look happy".
The delay may be a good thing. Friday afternoon The Animal Legal Defense Fund made contact with the Skagit county prosecutors to offer pro bono assistance. Also, the sheriff (including AC) and judges are pro animal, the prosecutors are less enthused about these cases. The ALDF's national profile might energize them as much as the free help.
The charges of inappropriate confinement have not been tried before in WA. With a guilty result, Animal Control officers will have more power to remove animals from bad situations. You may have experienced AC telling you that 'yes, it is a lousy environment but the animals have food and water so we can't do anything'. If Beverly Ouellet is found guilty on these charges, her debris strewn, filthy farm and lousy care may have a positive result for animals.
Scott Heiser is the attorney with the Animal Legal Defense Fund who is in contact with the prosecutors offering free assistance from the ALDF. If any of you are inclined, please contact the Skagit County prosecutor's office and let them know you encourage them to accept the assistance. The prosecutors are the weakest link in bringing Bev Ouellet to justice. I believe they need to know that the community wants them to use every avenue to successfully prosecute her.
One more thing-
Scott Heiser of the Animal Legal Defense Fund just emailed that the prosecutor's office has not responded to his offer. Please consider sending an email to Prosecutors Weyrich and Johnson at:
prosecutor@co.skagit.wa.us
Just let them know that you encourage them to accept this free assistance as this case is very important to the welfare of animals in Washington state. No one has previously been charged with RCW 16.52.080 (unsafe confinement). If Beverly Ouellet is convicted the animal community will have another tool in the battle against neglect.
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Post by schwung on Jul 20, 2007 11:25:15 GMT -5
Another great update...thank you to anyone who emailed the prosecutor, it worked!
Scott Heiser of the Animal Legal Defense Fund has been asked for his assistance by Sloan Johnson, Skagit County prosecutor. They have asked for jury selection questions and guidelines. Thanks to all of you who encouraged the prosecutor's office to accept this help. As well as additional resources toward a guilty result, you have made the prosecutors aware that the community is watching this case.
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Post by safehorses on Jul 20, 2007 18:32:55 GMT -5
Wow...that really is great! Good job everyone!
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Post by schwung on Jul 23, 2007 12:27:29 GMT -5
Rusty and "the palomino" are now enjoying the lush grass down at winterlakesfarm. They will be getting their feet done this week and are doing well. I am expecting Chelsea to provide us with some updates and photos soon.
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Post by winterlakesfarm on Jul 23, 2007 14:57:19 GMT -5
Rusty and No Name loaded well, hauled well and settled in quickly at my place. They are on a 4 acre pasture that is mostly wooded but has large open meadows that they are sharing with the bunnies and deer. They enjoy pretending they are "scared" by bunnies and such and running up towards the barn. They are kind and well mannered, waiting for you to put their grain down and even share fairly well. I will try to get some pics and post them soon.
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