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CONVICTED: Was justice served?
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Case #13961 Rating: 1.5 out of 5 (22 votes)
Horses and donkeys seized from neglect
McClellanville, SC (US)Incident Date: Friday, Jun 27, 2008
County: Charleston
Disposition: Convicted
Case Images: 1 files available
Defendant/Suspect: Cynthia Dellinger
Case Updates: 2 update(s) available
Thick, matted hair concealed sharp bones along the backs and hips of miniature horses and donkeys seized Thursday from a woman authorities said didn't comply with orders to improve their care.
The shaggy coats were a sign that daily brushings had not been done, said Kay Hyman, director of outreach and communications for the Charleston Animal Society. Distended stomachs likely indicated parasites, she said, and one animal needs dental work.
Charleston Animal Control officers received a court order to remove the three ponies and three donkeys from owner Cynthia Dellinger, 50, of 9760 Randall Road. Officers first received a complaint about the care of the animals May 8 and found that five of the six were emaciated, a report stated.
Officers instructed Dellinger to improve care of the animals, which was to include examination by an equine vet, but conditions were unchanged during a follow up visit Thursday, the report said.
Hay was thrown on top of feces and drinking water was stagnant, an officer documented.
Though fresh cedar shavings were in the pens, cedar isn't recommended for bedding horses because it is oily and can cause skin irritation.
Officers issued Dellinger five citations for animal-care violations and one citation for ill treatment of animals. She is due to appear in Magistrate Court on Thursday.
"We try and help (owners) before it gets to this point. It's just unfortunate," said Charlie Karesh, the animal society's board president.
Each trio of animals consists of a father, a mother and a foal. The mothers may be pregnant again, Hyman said. "We think they've been bred."
The horses and donkeys are expected to recover but probably wouldn't have survived in their prior conditions, Animal Control administrative assistant Michelle Buell said.
The animals roamed the barn Friday at the society's facility on Remount Road and munched contentedly on fresh hay. The horses, though more skittish than the donkeys, were starting to become a little less wary of visitors by late afternoon. They were all in for a shave Friday evening.
After testing for disease, the society will be looking for foster families for the animals pending Dellinger's court appearance.
Karesh said he doesn't think finding homes for the diminutive equines will be a problem.
"We've already had people express interest," he said.
The Animal Society has had some response for foster care, but if you're interested contact them at 747-4849.
Case UpdatesA woman cited for poor treatment of six miniature horses and donkeys was fined Thursday and allowed to keep one horse, a male that appeared to be the best-fed of the bunch.
Cynthia Dellinger, 50, of 9760 Randall Road, pleaded guilty to one count of animal-care violation, said Kay Hyman, director of outreach and communications for the Charleston Animal Society.
Magistrate David Coker fined Dellinger $1,087, but suspended it to $55 provided she doesn't incur any animal violations for one year, Hyman said.
Hyman said Dellinger pleaded no contest to five other citations related to animal care. Coker also ordered Dellinger to pay the Animal Society $300 in restitution; Hyman said care of the animals has cost about $1,500.
Animal Control officers in May found that five of the six animals were emaciated, a report stated. The animals were removed June 26 after conditions were unchanged, the report said.
Hay was scattered on top of manure and drinking water was stagnant, the report said. Some animals had leg sores and their winter coats were matted. They required treatment for parasites and they needed dental work because their teeth caused tongue scarring and inhibited them from eating, officers said.
Two miniature horses and three miniature donkeys are expected to be available for adoption once testing is finished to make sure they don't have an equine virus. Call the Animal Society at 747-4849 for more information. | Source: The Post and Courier - July 4, 2008
Update posted on Jul 6, 2008 - 4:58PM |
Live 5 News reported Friday about three miniature horses and three miniature donkeys the Charleston Animal Society took custody of after the Charleston County Sheriff's Office confiscated the animals off the owner's property in McClellanville.
Today, the animals are doing much better.
"And this is really sad, because she's a very sweet horse," Charleston Animal Society Director of Public Outreach Kay Hyman said. "The first day she came in we couldn't barely touch her."
The animals were taken from their because a concerned citizen called and reported they weren't being properly taken care of.
"She had a think coating of mats of fur," Hyman said. "You can still see some of it on her legs where we haven't finished. We keep giving her a break because it's just too traumatic to be shaved all at once."
Hyman says the animals hadn't been groomed or properly fed.
"But she's obviously able to breath now, be able to sweat like she's supposed to," Hyman said. "But now you can see these terrible ridges in her sides where she was undernourished."
After two days in the care of the Charleston Animal Society, the animals seem to be doing much better. Equine veterinarians continue to monitor their progress and test for other problems.
"They drew blood," Hyman said. "We're going to see if the progesterone levels are up in the females to see if they're pregnant, because we do believe that they have been bred."
Officers issued the animals' owner, Cindy Dellinger, five citations for animal-care violations, and one for ill treatment of animals. She is scheduled to appear in magistrate court on Thursday. At that time, a judge will decide if the animals should be returned to Dellinger, or if custody will be turned over to Charleston Animal Society to adopt them out.
The whole saga began back in early May when complaints were first reported against Dellinger and how she was keeping the animals. Sheriff's deputies gave her a list of things she needed to do to prove she could care for the animals, but they say she failed to fulfill those requirements and that's why they took the animals from her. | Source: Live 5 Ndews - June 28, 2008
Update posted on Jun 29, 2008 - 2:29AM |
References« SC State Animal Cruelty Map
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