Under current law, veterinarians in Kentucky are forbidden to report animal cruelty without the express permission of the animal’s owner or unless a court orders the disclosure.
Most equine cruelty investigations begin with a tip to law enforcement, and whether those cases are successfully prosecuted can depend largely on how tipsters share their information. Here’s what to remember.
On Jan. 14, the horses’ owners Cheryl and Richard Ervin surrendered to the Union County Sheriff’s Office and were charged with 37 counts of misdemeanor and four felony counts of animal cruelty.
Gail Nichols, DVM, and her husband, Paul Smith, are facing charges after 30 horses were seized from their property.
David and Bradley Flint allegedly abandoned three horses in the Washakie Wilderness earlier this year.
The legislation will shield veterinarians from civil liability when they report suspected animal cruelty to authorities.
A pair of allegedly maltreated adult horses were also found on the property.
Alleged animal abusers could also avoid consequences by signing an affidavit banning future animal ownership.
Authorities charged an Idaho couple each with 23 counts of misdemeanor animal cruelty.
A judge ordered that 24 horses be returned to their owner while another 39 remain impounded.
The equine veterinarian is the prosecutor’s most important resource and witness in these cases, one attorney said.
Penny Gingerich has been charged with 64 counts of misdemeanor animal cruelty.
How a vet examines and treats allegedly abused horses can mean the difference between a successful or unsuccessful case.
A man is facing charges for riding an allegedly maltreated horse from Greenwood, South Carolina, to Miami-Dade, Florida.
Sensenig pleaded guilty to both summary counts of animal cruelty during his court appearance on Aug. 8.
The man is facing animal cruelty charges for allegedly striking a horse overburdened by the wagon load he was pulling.
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