Spokane7
59°
February 25, 2012 in City
Starving livestock seized
Dead, emaciated animals found during cruelty investigation
Humane Evacuation Animal Rescue Team volunteer Shannon Morse spends time with an emaciated mare at an emergency shelter at the Spokane County fairgrounds.
(Full-size photo)(All photos)
The Spokane County Regional Animal Protection Service carried out a search Friday morning on rural property northwest of Elk, in north Spokane County.
SCRAPS responded to complaints about the condition of about 75 animals, including horses, llamas, cows, sheep, goats and dogs.
Animal protection officers received complaints of alleged animal cruelty and were continuing their investigation at the site, 42505 N. Bruce Road, until late afternoon Friday.
A number of dead animals were also found. Some had decayed to bones.
The scene included penned animals lacking proper food, said Nancy Hill, the director of SCRAPS.
A veterinarian examined the condition of each animal and rated all of them either thin or emaciated, the bottom ratings in veterinary medicine, Hill said.
Large animals were being taken to an emergency shelter at the Spokane County Fair and Expo Center in Spokane.
SCRAPS was assisted by two volunteers from the American Humane Association, who flew to Spokane for the raid, and volunteers from the Humane Evacuation Animal Rescue Team based in Spokane.
Officers will continue to investigate potential charges of first-degree animal cruelty, a class C felony carrying a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $10,000 fine, or second-degree animal cruelty, a misdemeanor with a penalty of up to $1,000 or 90 days in jail.
Returning farmland to a state of nature 
Pat O'Leary on February 25 at 6:06 a.m.
I’ll never understand why people will keep animals and then not feed them…..although, there are plenty who treat children and elderly the same way. It’s pathetic.
D Statler on February 25 at 9:20 a.m.
I would think helping the farmer with some livestock food would have been much easier. Having animals and children require no training. There is no simple solution to this problem. It is often hard to feed ourselfs. Our economy sucks! Some people suck ! Lets hope all the animals get the attention they deserve. I am sure these are not the only living creatures starving around Spokane.
Defang_Scraps on April 23 at 4:25 p.m.
1) With Charges Pending, It seems a little outside fair practices to allow the seized property to be photographed and sensationalized. Jury Tampering anyone?
2) My guess is that in this picture you are looking at a 25+ Year Old Arabian Horse. Notably Light breeds, and notable for being slight of stature late in their long lives.
3) The Animal condition chart does not take into consideration Age or Breed. Thin is not Neglect.
4) Photographs from the scene show animals eating hay. The director of Scraps in this story claims the feed was not proper. You can ask 100 long time large animal owners what is “proper” and you will get 50 to 100 different answers.
5) You can not legally seize property that is legal to own without Due Process. Neglect is charged, but owning an animal that is neglected does not make the Animal Illegal to own. You must have Due Process before seizure of an Animal. Due Process comes from a Trial, not an accusation or perceived wrong doing.
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Citizens of Spokane County:
You are loosing your freedoms. The Rural life that has always been the foundation of this county, and the freedoms long held by rural citizens are being eroded by the rampant, progressive, big city mentality in Spokane County Government and Enforcement.
We are loosing all of our Human Rights in the name of Animal Rights. It is time for the disenfranchised rural citizens of Spokane County to band together giving a joint voice and support to the causes and concerns of Traditional Rural life and Rural Freedoms.
Find us on Facebook (Defang SCRAPS) and lets have a community discussion on how to create a balance between Human Rights and Animal Rights.
Defang_Scraps on April 23 at 4:41 p.m.
Consider:
“two volunteers from the American Humane Association, who flew to Spokane for the raid”
Airfare is steep right now, lets say $600 per person round trip plus about a 3 day stay at $100 per day.
Total - $1800 that could have been spent buying Hay and other feed for the Animals!
Question:
What was the total real cost of the raid to the public? What was the total enumberation of resources to acomplish the raid? Would a donation of feed and supplies and helpful labor been much more cost effective over a Raid, Seizure and Court Battle, and possible Jail Time for the offender?