Waco police and animal control officers seized four horses and a mule from 50-year-old Emily Sue Vaughan on July 12.
Vaughan was charged with misdemeanor cruelty to animals and authorities removed her remaining livestock when conditions on the property had not improved enough within a few days of their initial visit, officials said.
According to court documents, visiting Municipal Court Judge David Deaconson ruled July 26 that Vaughan had cruelly treated the horse that officers euthanized, as well as a blind thoroughbred gelding that was seized by officials.
The gelding was ordered to be given to the Humane Society of Central Texas for adoption.
In previous interviews, Waco police Sgt. W. Patrick Swanton told the Tribune-Herald that the euthanized horse was found emaciated, dehydrated and had a sore so swollen it was painful for the animal to stand. The blind gelding also appeared emaciated, he said.
“We’re satisfied with the outcome and we’re happy one of them is not going to be suffering anymore,” animal control officer Luis Leyva said. “The other ones are in good condition and we’ll follow up as needed.”
Ray J. Black, Vaughan’s attorney, said his client still was considering whether to appeal the order.
In past interviews, Vaughan contended that all of the animals were cared for and that the horse that was shot was being monitored by a veterinarian to determine when to put it down.
“She is happy that the judge returned four of these (animals) to her,” Black said. “I was pleased with that result but, unfortunately, the court decided to keep an old horse that was blind and has been blind for years. She is concerned about the welfare of the horse.”
Ray Black, you are a POS.
Black said Deaconson was fair, but that the two disagreed about the condition of the blind horse that was retained by the animal shelter.
“A veterinarian needed to look at that horse before any decision was made to kill it or not,” he said. “There is no remedy for them shooting somebody’s horse.”
Swanton has said officers made several unsuccessful attempts to contact a veterinarian, but eventually it was determined the most humane thing to do was to shoot the horse.
The city has a provision in its code of ordinances that allows officers to shoot an animal to “prevent such animal from enduring further pain or suffering as a result of disease or injury,” animal control officers said Thursday.
Swanton described such cases as “few and far between.”
(Waco Tribune - August 3, 2012)
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