CC-by-SA-2.0 ~ Pia Gaarslev "Horse in a pasture"
Another horse facility getting hit by the hard economic times. Once a great facility owned by another and used for Thoroughbreds with a horse Jacuzzi used for therapeutic therapy, is now a site for police investigations. Police came to the Mill City ranch, now ran by Tania Herring, last month to due a called in complaint from a veterinarian about some of the health concerns he had for the horses. With the information that was collected at that time the authorities went to the courts to get search warrants to seize some of the bad horses. On Thursday the 21st, the Linn County Sheriff’s Office deputies showed up to serve their warrant. The officers then called the Linn County Animal Rescue which had dozens of volunteers to help and a veterinarian to assist with evaluating and taking the horses.
Once there it was worse that expected, they found 116 horses and miniature horses and approximately 70 were showing signs of neglect. Many of the horses were malnourished, diseased, parasitic and some had skin mange. One of the horses had difficulty walking due to lack of hoof care which lead to a deformed leg. Another horse had an open infected wound on it’s neck. Some of the horses were in pretty bad shape and could not walk. One pregnant mare was in one of the worst conditions and she was one of the many seized yesterday. Due to the poor health, the veterinarian may have to put down some of the worst horses.
When the sheriff’s deputies go out on a call like this they need the assistance of a veterinarian to help them distinguish how the horse is to be rated. The horses are rated on a numbering scale and the lower the number the worse the condition of the animal. Upon these horses that were being rated it appeared several were rated as a 1. There were 30 horses taken yesterday and there may be more taken before the investigation is over. The problem is finding foster homes for 30+ horses is really hard right now.
Tania Herring, 30, was arrested yesterday and is being charged with 30 counts of animal neglect right now. The case has been turned over to the District Attorney and they may try for the conviction of animal abuse as well on some. If they get the conviction she could face a fine and /or jail time and they are also trying to make it to where she can never own or care for a horse again. Her court date has been set for February 24, 2010.
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Comments
Such stories are heart-breaking!
I know Tania and have done business with her and been to her place many times and she does her best to care for them. She is out with them all day long, every day taking care of them, ie wounds, feeding, cleaning. These are trumped up charges simply to make an example of somebody. Many of the horses she has taken in have been very thin and she isn't responsible for the condition that horses comes to her in but she does her best by them once they are there. The reports given by the news are not accurate and made by people who want to believe the worst.
Thanks for the encouraging words Carol. I truely hope for the horses sake that this is a big misunderstanding. If, in fact, she has been wronged and the charges should not have been charged, then she should be able to provide documentation of these horses. She should be able to provide when she received them, the condition they were in (pictures) and should be able to show feed bills of what she has purchased. Maybe she was out of food and she just had not been to the feed store or had it delivered yet. All these things she should have and be able to provide if she was wrongfully charged, and she should be able to get the charges dropped. I will follow the progress of this case to see the outcome.
Thanks Linda Ann for your response. Yes it is heart-breaking to hear no matter what the actual circumstances are. I just hope she was taking good care of them and she got them in bad condition, but was helping them.
Dena
Im glad this has all come to an end, this woman has needed this done for so many years now.
Thanks Phyllis for your comments. I am glad if in fact she was at fault and there were problems at her hand. I do not know what these horses looked like when she received them, but we all see what they look like now. Depending upon what proof she has to support her version of the story will all come out in court.
I'm curious to see how it all plays out. I have no pity for someone who just cannot say no to another animal that they cannot afford. It does that animal more harm.
I don't know why you would justify the actions of this person! You say shes out cleaning,feeding etc. yet there doesn't seem to have been ANY VET CARE. This is neglect and abuse!!! Maybe you haven't seen the worst horses during your visit. Open,gaping,infected wounds dont sound like good horse keeping practices to me. Long hooves,causing deformities doesn't sound like good practices to me... I have owned horses for many years and poor hoof care is the number one thing I see in the horse world..Ya,maybe they were neglected when she got them(if you are so quick to defend her) but farrier service is just as important as 'regular vet care.' Why wasn't that done IMMEDIATLY!Why wasn't the vet called when she first took them in and have worming,vx,bloodwork etc. done right from the get go?! If she is a knowledgable horse person, she should have known better.At least she would have documentation of vet care etc to prove her "good intentions" It's people like 'Carol' to try to justify cruelty.
Thank you Kym for your comments. We all seem to be feeling the same way on this one. Show the proof of your actions or suffer the penalty.
We just purchased 1 of this creep's horses. 3/2011. She threatened to sue me if I said anything negative about her! I didn't know anything but what she said during our negotiations to buy a seriously overpriced neglected horse. We get him home, he falls down getting out of the trailer, etc etc. Then we find his tongue has been half cut off! Ya know? I'd call this neglect AND abuse & it all came from good ol' th. I can't use her name of course. she might sue me......nice lady? give me a break.
OMG that is horrible. Just horrible to hear. I hope the horse is doing ok now and He is in a better place right now. We have to be thankful for that I guess.
Who buys a horse with out looking in the mouth to see about how old it is? who pays alot of money for a horse with out a vet check? who yanks a horse out of a trailer so fast it stumbles?.....or was that when he bit his tongue when someone stepped on the brakes of the truck? who knows what the truth is here?
there is a group of horsepeople who hated when Tania came to the playdays and horse shows and won. They have really spread alot of stories with out the facts. The case was dismissed. What does that tell you folks?
This story needs to be updated, It came out in court that the media was played by the sheriff and the whole thing was dismissed because of the lack of facts, some really big stories were told. As for the horses taken it not clear what happen to all of them and why?
Sorry for not responding sooner but Examiner has changed our comment section and it is not as user friendly anymore for older articles. I have been talking to the owner of the horses and yes I am aware of the case being dismissed. I am waiting for the facts and exactly what happened so I am not quoted incorrectly. There was way too much that happened with this story and I do not want to explain anything wrong. Thank you "looking for the truth" about asking about this story.
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