Brownstown Township animal control officer: Horses lived in a prison cell, died a slow death

MICHIGAN -- A man who pleaded guilty in an animal abuse case involving three horses, two of which died of starvation and another found gravely ill, was sentenced in 33rd District Court.

Scott Guigar, 43, was sentenced Aug. 14 before Judge James Kersten to four months probation, a psychological evaluation with mental health treatment as needed and 25 days of community service.

He also must pay fines and court costs, plus restitution to the township in the amount of $1,682 for the cost of the necropsies (autopsy) and toxicology reports.

In addition to those requirements, Guigar also must allow Brownstown animal control officers access to his property for inspection.

He also is restricted from owning any horses, cows, goats, pigs, etc. for the duration of his probation.

Marty Bertera, animal control officer, said he is happy with the judge’s sentence and glad the entire ordeal is over.

“My dad owned horses for 30 years,” Bertera said. “He was an old horseman and he used to say, ‘You know what makes a horse happy — freedom.’ You get any old horse and he’ll run with his tail up. These horses never had that opportunity. They lived in a prison cell and died a slow death.”

Bertera said he has no sympathy for Guigar, saying there were three adults at his residence in the 26000 block of West Road who could have given the horses a coffee can full of grains and some hay and they may have lived.

“They never had a chance to enjoy life,” Bertera said.

The sentence stems from the Jan. 29 discovery of the skeletal remains of the two horses on his property.

Animal control officers initially were tipped off to a possible problem with Guigar’s dogs.

When animal control officers arrived they found the dogs in acceptable condition, but the horses were a different story.

Early in the case, Guigar pleaded not guilty and insisted, according to an affidavit, that he had fed and cared for the horses.

“The judge didn’t buy any of that in the least bit,” Bertera said. “He (Guigar) was using a lot of what he thought happened to the horses rather than the evidence.”

Guigar said he thought the horses died of parasites.

“The judge told Guigar he couldn’t argue with pictures of dead horses and scientific evidence,” Bertera said. “He said it was evident that the horses starved to death.”

Tests on the horses were conducted at Michigan State University’s School of Veterinary Medicine.

The necropsies determined that the horses died of starvation.

Prior to the sentencing, township Supervisor Andrew Linko said it is important to send a message that neglect and abuse of animals will not be tolerated in the township.

Although the judge did not sentence Guigar to any jail time, Linko said the Board of Trustees was in full support of it in this case.

(Southgate News Herald - Aug 19, 2014)