The group Stop Animal Cruelty in Hot Spring County was called out to a property on the 300 block of Kirkpatrick Road by a neighbor concerned for the health of two horses.
Sheriff’s deputies arrived on scene and seized the animals. One of the malnourished horses was sent to a foster family where it hopefully can recover.
The other horse, in addition to being emaciated, had a badly injured eye and could not stand up. Anna Plese, an investigator for Stop Animal Cruelty, said she stayed with the horse’s head in her lap for five hours until the veterinarian showed up to euthanize it.
Plese said this is the first case in her experience where an animal was so far gone that it could not be saved.
Hot Spring County Sheriff Chad Ledbetter said 2 counts of animal cruelty will be charges against the property owner, Tommy Kirkpatrick.
(Fox16 - May 16, 2012)
