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Updated: 10:18 AM Jun 7, 2007
Animal Expert Says Grass Lake Horses Were Tortured
Three of the 69 horses at Grass Lake Township's "Turn Three Ranch" were tortured; that from a veterinarian in court Wednesday. The Prosecution says it was not done intentionally, but they were neglected so bad it could be considered torture. Posted: 5:52 PM Jun 6, 2007Reporter: Lori Dougovito Email Address: lori.dougovito@wilx.com |
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31 Comments 
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If you don't know the facts you should keep your opinions to yourself. I know the people who testified including the AC vet and the veterinary surgeon, as well as AC. There was no abuse or neglect of these animals, intentional or otherwise. AC thinks, like many people, that all horses are valuable. They saw an opportunity to make money, found a DA and a looney judge to help. The judge is certifiably nuts (I've met him), and all of the other people in the the DA's office refuse to work with AC because they have a habit of doing this.
I'm apolled at what has been going on with turn 3 ranch. It is rediculous and they should ahve never had one single horse taken away from them. nore should they of had their trucks seized and theur tack stolen or their barns and fields flooded by animal control. Do people know that horses haven't been wormed or had their feet trimmed since Animal control took them. They are now skinny(for thsoe of you that think they where before AC took over you should see them now). They are infested with worms so bad worming them regulularly could kill them. Its all a big joke and more people need to stand up to end it.
Del from Leslie, your a liar and a cheat. I do know the facts of this case evidentally you don't. And your idea of the law has changed. For starters they are getting charged with 3 counts not 4, next two of these horses had vet appts which AC cancelled, next the 4 yr old that was emaciated had been separated in the barn so not to be in a pecking order and also getting extra which the vet said she would bounce back. These guys are not animal abusers at all, it should not have been seized at all. I think some of you people spewing lies and hate are probaly a few of the people Matt and Jim had past lawsuits with and they won. Shame on you for being so evil. You know these mens life is loving horses. And the rest of you, you have been very mislead by AC's lies and exaggerations. We all have learned that AC Shelter is the worst in Michigan and other shelters won't take their animals because they are so miserably sick. What does that tell you about Jackson Animal Control Shelter? I think they need charged with animal cruelty.
Can someone provide a link to the video of the horses? Thanks
It seems a little strange that another Local News Station is claiming that: "the Jackson County Animal Control's veterinary told the court that none of of the horses were starved or neglected, the horses were not tortured and blamed their shaggy fur and bony appearence on Michigan's winter weather." There appears to be a completely different story here. Does anyone know who the veterinary is for Jackson County Animal Control? Why would Jackson County Animal Control seize this farm and horses when their own veterinarian blames the appearence of the horses on Michigan's winter weather?
Also just because there are only 4 charges filed against them doesn't mean that only 4 horses were malnourished. How Michigan law works is that you get the exact same penalty for 1 count of Animal Neglect as you would for 1,000 counts of Animal Neglect. Usually with multiple Animal Neglect cases you are charged with one count (Like with Matt and Jim) and they choose the animal that it is easiest case to prove. If they charged them with 69 cases they would have pull evidence on all 69 horses at the taxpayers expense just to have the accused if convicted serve the same time as if they had just charged them with one case. The felony charges, while harder to prove, are served concurrently so you do get a bigger punishment for each convicted case. So don't state that only 4 horses were malnourished unless you've got some "facts" other than the charges stating that.
Jamie from Sunfield... AMEN !!!!!! Its not right to feed yearlings like this during their "growing" years to save a few bucks, only to sell them for top $$ as racehorses to unsuspecting owners who might have issues later. Wake up people..... where there is smoke there is usualy fire....
Del.... I think that you are 100% right... but its not an excuse....they knew better, and had money to buy quality feed, if they didnt they had enought value in horses to sell some, (like the rest of us would have had to do) and pay for feed. No excuse...
Alisha...you say "People get the facts or keep ur mouths shut."... I think that this applies to you as well... I think that the ONLY "facts" you have, are the ones that came from the mouths of the accused. Just because the accused send out propoganda e-mails about how innocent they are, and how corrupt the media and Animal Control are does NOT mean that they are FACTS and it does NOT mean that they ARE innocent. It just means they got caught. You people are NOT horsemen if you cant see that this was NOT the right way to take care of a horse. Even feedlot horses get better care than these horses did.
Alisha your comment is just like the rest. You can't stick up for them. They did wrong and they are paying for it. You say that people shouldn't say anything about them because we don't know them. It sounds like you don't know them either so you need to shut your mouth. I do know them and i have asked them before why the were not caring for the 2 horses I seen at the time and all they said was " yeah we need to get on that ". Those are not the only horses that were neglected either, Alisha. A friend of mine bought 3 horses and 2 out of the three had stunted growth due to there problems. The problems the owners did not take care of and now my fiend has to raise a horses that was neglected and could have been prevented. These people are lazy. It's not hard to take care of a horse if you know what you are doing. i fyou get in trouble for the way you bring up your horses you are doing something wrong and you need to get rid of them and get a fish.
Holly crap people there was like 4 horses(out of 69) that where old or ill. If they where taking such bad care of them why where the other 65 horses fat/over weight and have good feet. Guess what people. Horses can just drop dead without any warning. I have a friend that went out to her field one day and found her gaited mare dead. No signs or anything. The mare was fat and sassy and just droped dead. Michigans Animal Control is a JOKE. They put me through hell with a mare rescue mare I adopted. I had already put 500 lbs on that mare and we still went to court for animal neglect, starvation(horses have round bale in front of them 24/7), abandonment(live on site and worked hroses every day), etc(and the other 2 horses where FAT). If they wheren't taking care of their horses then why would animal control of turned away a load of hay that Matt and Jim had schuled to be delivered. You people make me sick. Your running people into the ground and you don't know them, you don't know the care of their horses, and you haven't ever seen their horses. People get the facts or keep ur mouths shut.
Del u r right. If u can't afford to take care of your horses sell them to a better farmer/horse taker that can. Don't let them get that neglected.
I'm willing to give these guys the benefit of the doubt and say they took excellent care of their horses in the past. Last summer hay was *expensive*. I could barely afford to buy enough for my horses. Many other people were in the same boat. My guess is that they didn't buy enough and hoped for a mild winter. With the idea they could put the weight back on come spring. We didn't have a mild winter and we had a terrible cold wet spell in the spring as well as late frosts. It doesn't help that one of the men was injured. Sounds like they gave the food they had to the most valuable horses in order to make sure come spring they could make a little money. But you know what, no matter what the circumstances are,, the way they took "care" of their animals THIS WINTER was neglectful.
Wow!! Iam a huge animal lover especially horses and this story made me sick. Those guys should never get another animal again and be tossed in prison and forgot about.. And to Bill from Texas are you kidding me are you even reading the same story as the rest of us.. Abuse Is Abuse plain and simple. Those poor horses had no way of defending them selves from those abusers. All animals are gifts and precious.. Im just sickened by this.. I agree with you melissa from Micigan they should go through what the horses did..
To Jay of MI. Ofcorse the child you are talking about is not going to bring out a neglected horse. That would be silly. These horse owners don't want to show it off that they are not very good with animals. They just wait for one to drop dead in there driveway......