Wednesday, October 1, 2014

Sagebrush Ranch owner charged with felony animal cruelty

NEVADA -- An arrest warrant is out for the owner of Sagebrush Ranch, a now-defunct horseback riding operation that's been the subject of a Contact 13 investigation.

The owner has been charged with cruelty to the animals on whose back her business was built.

It's down to two. Two old horses still in the county's care after animal control confiscated them and 34 others in July at Sagebrush Ranch.

Now, owner Jacque Fitzgerald is facing 12 criminal counts of felony animal cruelty for depriving her horses of food and medical care.



 

At least one horse was literally neglected to death.

Diann Dunn worked for Fitzgerald for four years and says nothing in the criminal complaint surprises her, "Too little too late. This should have been done years ago."

Each of the 12 counts involves a different horse. The state says all suffered "unjustified physical pain and suffering." The horses teeth were all severely neglected. All had overgrown hooves with diseased soles.

Some were malnourished. One had sand in its stomach and others had foxtails impacted into their gums. Others suffered untreated skin and eye infections and had old scars from saddle sores.

"Anybody who does this to an animal does not deserve to have the freedom that she took away from her animals," said Dunn.

 

Authorities said Fitzgerald ran unlicensed businesses for years, from trail riding to lessons to children's camps.

In August, Fitzgerald pleaded guilty to misdemeanor animal cruelty and doing business without a license, charges that dated back to 2012.

She got off with a fine, but as for these new, felony charges, Dunn said, "I'm hoping that this puts an end to her and this is it."

On Monday, Fitzgerald didn't return multiple calls for comment.

In July, we spoke to her at the property where she was keeping her horses on Deer Springs road. At the time, she told us, "I have a vet on call at all times."

But the criminal complaint suggests she wasn't calling the vet nearly enough.

"I have seen the vet on property probably about five times in the four years that I was helping her." said Dunn.



As for how she treated her horses, Fitzgerald told Contact 13 in July, "That's the most horrible thing that a horse person can have happen to them, is for people to think that they're cruel. And that is the last thing that I would ever be."

The last two remaining horses from Sagebrush Ranch are in temporary homes at Horseman's Park, where they were taken when the County confiscated them from Fitzgerald in July.

Of the 36 horses seized, most have been adopted, two had to be euthanized, and the two still at Horseman's Park are in need of loving homes.

They can no longer be ridden but they do need somewhere to live out the rest of their lives.

If you're interested in adoption, please contact Clark County Animal Control at 702-455-7710 or head to their website.

(KTNV - Sept 29, 2014)

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