Derrick Chapman, 30, was charged with animal cruelty July 11. Animal control officers found a dying horse on the man's property, without its teeth and severely underweight.
According to a Greenville veterinarian at the scene, the horse died five days later from not being able to properly chew its food. Three other horses remain on the property, including one with skin hanging on its ribcage.
"The animal cruelty charges came as a shock to me and my family," Chapman said in an interview Monday. "We thought we could help [the dead horse], put some weight on him, give him what he needs."
Now, sources who work with the Craven County Animal control are concerned one of the surviving horses could also die from malnourishment. The horse in the worst condition has half of its teeth remaining, and needs specialized saturated food.
"The horse is not as bad as it looks," Animal Control Supervisor Trinity Smith said Thursday morning. "On a body score scale of one to five with one being emaciated, the horse scored a three and a half."
Chapman has allowed authorities to visit his property and check the animals at any time.
(WCTI - July 18, 2012)
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