Stable Owner On Trial For Animal Cruelty

Animal-control officers found sick and emaciated horses at Verna Sparks’ stable in Roy, an investigator testified.

The horses didn’t have adequate food or shelter, and one colt was so sick it was lying in its own feces, said Bill Barnett, animal control officer for the Humane Society of Tacoma and Pierce County.

He was the first prosecution witness Friday at the start of Sparks’ trial on 19 misdemeanor counts of animal cruelty.

The trial continues Monday in Eatonville District Court and is expected to finish Tuesday.

Sparks’ 35 horses were seized by the Humane Society on Jan. 27.

Barnett at one point Friday described the horses’ demeanor when they were seized:

“Head down. Lacked energy. Tail down,” he said. “Didn’t have a whole lot of vim and vigor.”