Starvation Case "One of the Worst

[whinny]

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Agriculture Official: Ga. Starvation Case "One of the Worst Situations We've Ever Dealt With"
by: The Associated Press
January 31 2007 Article # 8845

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More than 200 starving horses, cows, goats and dogs have been discovered on a Concord, Ga., farm.

Georgia Department of Agriculture Commissioner Tommy Irvin said complaints about the animals' condition came in last week.

"Considering the magnitude and the numbers, this is one of the worst situations we've ever dealt with," Irvin said. "Why he let them get in this shape, we have no explanation."

Officials did not release the name of the owner saying they would wait until warrants were served.

Irvin said at least half of the nearly 100 horses on the farm scored less than a two on the equine body scoring system of one to nine, meaning the horses are just skin and bones.

The horses got food Monday when volunteers brought in truckloads of hay and oats.

Kristin Reid, a local horse farm owner, has been trying to round up supplies for the animals. Reid, who was one of the volunteers delivering food, said she counted 98 horses, 65 cows, 65 goats and 50 to 60 dogs. Reid said some of the dogs had been killing the goats and eating them.

Other animals, animal bodies and fresh graves were scattered around the farm.

"It's horrific. I've never seen anything like it," Reid said. "There are dead animals, there are dying animals, there are starving animals everywhere."

Irvin said he thinks the state will seize about half the horses, while working with the owner to make sure the rest are properly cared for. Because some of the horses have a transmittable disease called strangles, they must be quarantined, he said.

Irvin said he was not sure what was happening with the cows and goats but believed the healthiest were being taken to be sold. He said those animals were the responsibility of the Pike County Sheriff's Office.

Scott Ballard, the district attorney for the Griffin Judicial Circuit, which includes Pike County, said warrants are expected to be issued for animal cruelty in the case.

[Nippy]

I cant understand why they leave ANY animals on the property, why not take the whole lot off the owners??? They have proven unfit to own an animal so why leave the rest left behind to suffer some more in the horrid hands of these people? Thats the crazy side of justice...its only half done!!! ****Big sigh**** Humans, we are nasty and cruel at times...thank God for all the ones with hearts of gold!.

[whinny]

the law nippy is a strange beast.i worked with the spca for 17 years (animal cop) one of the originals and i spent 75 % of time on the road and arrests 25 % in the courts proscuting.yes people are not nice.iv seen it all i did mostly large animals and small domestics and have been sick at what i had to deal with.now im retired i want to bring to light what happends out there in the real world.not to upset any one but just so thay can pass it on and mabe help stop some of the crulety .

[Nippy]

It must of been a tough job Whinny. There needs to be more "animal cops" out there, all around the world.

[whinny]

well nippy its a hard job and it takes some gumption to do it.its a night mare job and most people soon get burned out.the pay stinks the hours are long and some time its so bad you cant eat.people hate you because you sending them to jail ,make no mistake at time its life threating.heart renching and tummy sicking job.im glad in retired but i still wake up with night mares...

[mrsEd]

Whinny, we've had a series on TV about the RSPCA in England. It was bad to watch on TV, I can only imagine how bad it must be to actually personally witness and experience those crimes. I think only the feeling that you were actually saving animals must have kept you doing what you were then.... no other 'reward' was extended, as I can read from your above post...

[whinny]

WELL MRS EDD MY REWARD WAS CATCHING THE SCUM AND PROSICUTING THEM SENDING THEM TO JAIL.MOST OF THE TIME THE POOR ANIMALS HAVE LEFT THIS EARTH BY THE TIME WE GET TO THEM,SOME ARE VERY LUCKY AND WE GET THEM OUT OF THE SITUATION AS FAST AS WE CAN,BUT THE LAWS ARE FROM THE CAVE MAN DAYS AND NEED TO BE CHANGE DESPERATLY.IN MOST COURTS THE JUDGE WOULD SAY TO ME ".I REALLY DONT KNOW WHAT TO DO BECAUSE ITS NOT WRITEN IN THE BOOK"SO PLEASE COME TO MY CHAMBERS.WE WOULD DISCUSE A PUNISHMENT MOST OF THE TIME I HAD TO TELL HIM WHAT I THOUGHT I WOULD DO,AND THE JUDGE WOULD GO FOR IT.BUT LITTLE BY LITTLE THE COURTS ARE SEEING ANIMAL CRUELTY IN A MORE SEVERE WAY AND SLOWLY PUNISHMENT ARE GETTING HARDED FOR THE CRIMINAL.AND I GOTTA TELL YA IM LOVEN IT LOL

[mrsEd]

Yes, Whinny - I can imagine you do and I agree with you, of course. And, kudo's for your work, you're a good human being!

[whinny]

well thank you mrs edd im also old lol seen alote.mabe to much lol...

[Nippy]

I understand that its a hard job. I also have seen TV programmes about animal abuse, reality series about the RSPCA. Its a shocker alright! My hat goes off to you for doing a job such as this Whinny, horrible as it may be but so neccessary for the animals welfare. Imagine what state animals around the world would be in if there was no such people policing animals rights and welfare.<br><br>Post edited by: Nippy, at: 2007/02/03 20:45