oor shelter, medical care lead to 77 charges

A woman who allegedly neglected dozens of horses on her western Maryland farm was charged Friday (Dec. 22) with 73 misdemeanor counts of animal abuse and four felony counts of aggravated cruelty to animals.

Defendant Barbara P. Reinken, 61, declined to comment on the charges, which came nearly three weeks after the Humane Society of Washington County and the county sheriff's office carried out a search-and-seizure warrant at her farm near Sharpsburg, about 60 miles west of Baltimore. Reinken previously denied mistreating the animals.

Reinken's lawyer, Edward N. Button, also declined to comment on the charges, which carry maximum penalties totaling 21 years in prison and $93,000 in fines.

Reinken's trial is set for Feb. 22 in Washington County District Court.

The charging documents allege that virtually all the 75 horses taken alive from Reinken's property were infected with parasites, and that many had diseased teeth, skin, and feet. One died in transit and two were later euthanatized because of severe health problems, according to court records.

A 4- to-5-year-old mare was found dead in the pasture from complications from an untreated rib fracture, the charging documents state.

The felony charges are for the four deaths. "These charges are only available when the cruelty resulted in death of the creature," Deputy State's Attorney Joseph Michael said.

One misdemeanor charge is for alleged neglect of a cat.

In an interview Dec. 3, Reinken, a registered nurse, denied mistreating the horses but conceded she had too many on her 33-acre farm. Maryland has no laws regulating the number of horses per acre, but the University of Maryland Cooperative Extension says one horse may need one to two acres of pasture during summer grazing months.

Reinken also said on Dec. 3 that her lifetime dream of owning a horse farm started crumbling after an accident in the late 1990s incapacitated her for 18 months.

In the charging documents, Humane Society Executive Director Paul F. Miller wrote: "Due to the number of horses, there were not enough shelters, not enough hay, no pasture grass as it was overgrazed and no evidence of clean water."

Some shelters were filled with trash or deep mud, and most of the horses appeared not to have had any recent hoof or dental care, Miller wrote. Most of the 45 mares appeared to be pregnant because most of the males hadn't been gelded, according to Miller.

Separately Friday, District Judge Ralph H. France postponed a civil proceeding on Reinken's petition to have the horses returned to her. One of the terms of her release without bail was that she refrain from keeping horses on her property until the criminal case is resolved.--David Dishneau, Associated Press