4 horses seized
BENTON TOWNSHIP -- A Cheboygan County couple were arrested Monday, accused of neglecting their horses.
The sheriff's office along with the Cheboygan County Humane Society served a warrant to the couple's Benton Township home seizing four horses in the process. The couple's identity is not being released until they are arraignment; that is expected to take place Tuesday.
An anonymous tip led authorities to the horses that investigators say were left in a field with little food, water, or shelter.
"Originally there were five horses, we had gotten a report of one horse being down," said Mary Talaske, executive director of the Cheboygan County Humane Society.
However, Talaske says that horse was in such bad shape that he had to be euthanized on the spot. The horse's health is determined on a scale of one to ten. Ten meaning obese, one meaning near death. The four remaining horses were ranked by a veterinarian with two's and three's.
Unfortunately, the Humane Society says this is not a unique situation. Talaske says they used to see a case such as this on average twice a year. Now she says they're seeing it twice a month.
Talaske confirms they currently have two other open cases involving neglect to horses.
"I think throughout the state of Michigan it's going to be a big issue," Talaske said. "The economy of course has an impact, the price of hay has gotten very expensive." Talaske says it can be a great financial burden to care for a horse and while she says people for the most part may mean well, Talaske says in these difficult times people should seek help if they need it, sooner rather than later.
Two horses from a January case were placed in temporary adoptive care at an undisclosed location as were the four horses seized Monday.
Friday, Talaske was in court on behalf of the January case for a forfeiture hearing. A judge has set a bond of $930. Under Michigan's forfeiture laws, a judge may impose a fine equal to the costs of care for an animal until the time of trial. The owner has until Tuesday to pay the bond to retain ownership, otherwise the Humane Society may legally adopt out the two horses.
Horse owners in both cases could face criminal charges ranging from a 90 day misdemeanor to a four year felony.
