Amos Hendricks was charged with misdemeanor cruelty to animals. The horses were kept in a pasture off Peachtree Road in Northwest Charlotte.
“They looked fine to me. They would just roam the little pasture; you could see them from my development,” said neighbor Angela Hines.
Someone took a closer look and called Animal Control. From the barn you could see the horses were underfed with rib and hip bones in full view.
“There are ranges as to how underweight they are. The two that are the worst off, they are two of the worst horses that I have probably seen over my career here,” said Dr. Mary Blinn.
The Animal Control Veterinarian spent most of Thursday examining the horses and believes they can be nursed back to health.
When officers went to talk to Hendricks Wednesday, court documents say that he told them he had hired someone to take care of his horses and they “just took his money”.
Joyce Robinson is a neighbor and friend and says Hendricks always took care of his animals but illness might be affecting him.
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| The horses are now at the shelter receiving care. |
"He allowed the children around here to ride them-- the man took care of his horses. I know he's been ill for the last year-- had two surgeries around the time I had mine. For him not to take care of his
animals-- that's not true, he would not willfully just do that," said Robinson.
Officers say that Hendricks could go to court to try and get his horses back, if that fails they would be sold at auction. (The Charlotte Observer - April 12, 2013)
