Roberta Draper had four horses, at least four dogs, a couple cats, seven chickens, a sheep and a goat seized from her home on Nov. 8.
"These horses were just right around that severely underweight, emaciated stage," explains Christine McClintock, Tehama County Animal Care Center manager.
The Tehama County Sheriff’s Office says they are familiar with Draper. Their office confirms that she does have several past charges of animal cruelty.
KRCR News Channel 7 aired photos of the malnourished horses last month. A group of women were fighting to get the horses fed, and the care they need.
"It's hard to see, especially because horses are so big. To lose that much weight, it takes so long to get to that point, you know, they were in rough conditions and being underfed for a long period of time. So, that's something hard to see,” says McClintock.
Now that the animals are out of Draper’s care, the Tehama County District Attorney will decide whether or not to press charges.
We went to talk to Draper, and get her side of the story. A woman inside the fence of the address where Draper lives told us the allegations were a lie. We left a business card for Draper to contact us, but she never did.
“It's not something where they suddenly just dropped 20 pounds. These guys are two to three hundred pounds underweight, and that can be very frustrating to witness," says McClintock.
While the D.A. ponders the case, the animals will still need round the clock care.
"We've been able to foster most of them out. Unfortunately, we have to hold them as evidence, so they can't go to a new home permanently until everything is concluded," explains McClintock. Which could mean the animals could spend months living at the Tehama County Animal Care Center.
If you’d like to help feed these animals, contact the Tehama County Animal Care Center at (530) 527-3439.
McClintock says they are in need of food donations for the horse, dogs and cats.
(KRCTV - Nov 18, 2013)
ROBERTA DRAPER'S CRIMINAL HISTORY INVOLVING ANIMALS:
Draper was charged with seven counts of animal cruelty in 2008, according to court records.
She pled no contest and was given 3 years' probation, fines and was not to possess or care for any animals.
Draper admitted to a probation violation in January 2011 and was found guilty of another probation violation in June 2011.
In June 2006 Draper was cited for 10 counts of not possessing a dog license and 10 counts of not having a dog vaccinated.
She was ordered not to be in possession of any dogs without a vaccination or licenses and not to violate any kennel violations.
Draper faced similar charges in 2007, with five charges each of being in possession of dog without a license and not having a dog vaccinated.
In both cases she was convicted on pleas of guilty and entered a work program.
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