Charges pending in horse abuse

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Eight dead horses and a ninth horse in poor condition were found Friday on a property on Old Brock Road just outside Weatherford. The sheriff said charges are pending in the case. COURTESY PHOTO

August 14, 2011

Christin Coyne CNHI The Weatherford Democrat Sun Aug 14, 2011, 08:00 AM CDT

PARKER COUNTY — Eight dead horses and a ninth horse in poor condition were found Friday shortly after noon in the 400 block of Old Brock Road just outside Weatherford city limits.

No water, hay or feed were found on the property, according to the Parker County Sheriff’s Office.

A gelding was taken to a local veterinarian for treatment and testing but was later euthanized due to liver and renal failure, according to the sheriff’s office.

Six mares, a gelding and a filly were found dead on the property.

A veterinarian believed the horses had been dead for at least two days and without water for several days, according to a press release from the Parker County Sheriff’s Office. However, the official cause of death is pending an investigation.

“With the temperatures as high as they have been, it’s imperative to keep fresh water and adequate food for any animal,” Parker County Sheriff Larry Fowler said. “Our investigators are questioning several subjects, and charges are pending for the person or persons responsible for this unfortunate incident.”

The incident follows three arrests in the last two weeks in Parker County on animal cruelty charges.

A husband and wife, Cody Ryan Wilfong and Kristen Kelie Wilfong, were arrested last week following the Aug. 1 death of their 2-year-old dog, according to court records.

The dog was found dead because of lack of water, according to an arrest warrant affidavit in the case.

Kristen Wilfong told an investigator she had not checked on the dog over the weekend and assumed her husband had fed the animal, according to court records.

Sandy Grambort, who helps with equine rescue with the Humane Society of North Texas, said the drought has made it a tough summer for livestock owners.

There’s little grass and natural stock tanks are drying up, she said.

“We’ve even seen some cases where owners didn’t know stock tanks were drying up,” Grambort said.

In such extreme weather conditions, ranchers should have someone eyeball their animals every 48 hours, do a head count and look at the resources left, Grambort said.

Horses that might be put to pasture and left safely in other weather conditions could see their water source go dry during the drought, according to Grambort.

Those with small barns should be and usually are checking their animals every day, Grambort said.

Horses can generally go without food for a week or two until they are in desperate shape, according to Grambort, but death from dehydration can happen within three to four days regardless of the animal’s condition.

Death by dehydration is a painful way for animals to die, she said.

Most people are aware of the heat and drought issues and have doubled up their effort, Grambort said.

“Neighbors helping neighbors can make a difference,” Grambort said.

In July 2009, 11 broodmares were found dead or fatally ill as a result of lack of water when a pump system reportedly failed and a caretaker did not check the horses’ water supply in northeast Parker County, according to a previous Democrat story.

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