A judge ruled against Sherri Brunzell Thursday morning.
Brunzell's animals were seized from Black Forest last month after they were discovered in a barn, living among the remains of more than a dozen dead horses. Authorities said the surviving horses and the llamas did not appear healthy, though did not look to be in immediate danger either.
The judge said in Thursday's hearing that Brunzell will not get her animals right now; additionally she will have to pay a monthly fee to the tune of $5,400 while the animals are being cared for.
Brunzell maintains that her horses died of colic or old age, an explanation some Black Forest residents have a hard time believing. Witness Dr. Randy Parker, a veterinarian who has known
Brunzell for years because of vet visits, said in court Thursday that one of the dead horses was just 3 years old, and most were still fairly young at 5 to 10 years old. Only four of the 15 dead horses were at least 20. Parker said the general lifespan of horses is mid-to-late 30s.
"Horses from 3 years old on up to low 20s to all of a sudden be dead in one barn is absolutely shocking and this woman needs to be punished," Jan Rutledge said.
Parker conducted a body condition score on each surviving horse and said that most fell in the "thin" range but not necessarily malnourished. He testified that the barn conditions were poor.
Parker testified that in his opinion, the horses didn't need to be seized. He disagreed with Brunzell that any of the horses died of old age.
The bones of the dead horses are being tested to determine exactly how they died.
A judge will revisit whether to give Brunzell the animals back later this year.
(KKTV - Oct 10, 2014)
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