Dr. Bryan Parrott, a Hamilton-based equine specialist, said blood tests on Richardson's sickest horse, 30-year-old Remy, show the horse suffers from Cushing's disease and anemia. Cushing's disease is essentially a tumor on the pituitary gland that can cause weight loss, excessive thirst, changes in body shape, and muscle wasting. Anemia can cause weight loss and a heart murmur.
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| Veterinarian Dr. Bryan Parrott |
Defense co-counsel Erich Bryant, who represents Richardson, told the judge that those symptoms "mirror" Remy's physical condition last March, which is a key aspect of the prosecution's case against Richardson, 55, of Dracut.
The judge gave prosecutors a Feb. 19 deadline to acquire from all veterinarians who treated the horses and the MSPCA all treatment records of all three horses after Richardson surrendered the animals in March 2015.
When contacted Thursday after the mistrial, MSPCA spokesman Rob Halpin initially said his organization was investigating why the test results on Remy, who was renamed Flora, were not provided to the Middlesex District Attorney's office.
But after looking into the matter further, Halpin said Thursday night that Parrott "mixed up" his cases, giving the test results for the wrong horse.
After checking with MSPCA staff, Halpin said, "There isn't anything else that we have that we haven't already sent to the prosecution."
Parrott could not be reached for comment at his veterinary office in Hamilton Thursday night.
Judge Ellen Caulo refused to dismiss the case against Richardson, but declared a mistrial and released the jury.
Richardson will face a new trial, starting April 25. She said she is "relieved" about Remy's underlying diagnosis, adding it explained why she had such a hard time putting weight on the horse.
Richardson said the past year has been "a living hell" as she awaited her trial.
Richardson is accused of failing to provide adequate food, water, shelter and sanitary conditions for her four horses -- Remy, Bailey, Blake and Baboo -- and a mule, Lucy, in March 2015. Remy was in the worst shape, suffering from what was determined to be severe weight loss that caused a protruding of her rib and hip bone and the bones along her spine. She also had a serious wound on her back and her hooves needed treatment.
During trial testimony on Wednesday and Thursday morning, then-Animal Control Officer Virginia Courtenay and MSPCA Sgt. Martha Parkhurst testified they inspected Richardson's farm almost daily in March 2015 after receiving a report of a "skinny" horse.
Courtenay and Parkhurst testified that all the horses appeared underweight, with Remy being the worst. At various times, there was no sign of food or water being provided to the horses and they were not provided with sanitary shelters.
At one point during last year's bitter winter, two horses took shelter under some tires because the man-made shelter was inaccessible due to manure and ice.
Parrott testified that Remy was seriously underweight to the point where "she was just a skeleton." He rated her body a one -- the worst -- on a 1-to-9 equine body-scoring scale.
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| Remy, or Flora as the mare was renamed by the MSPCA, as she appeared the day she was surrendered by Dracut Selectman Cathy Richardson. Courtesy MSPCA |
Parrott also testified that Remy's hooves were "long and misshapen," and pus oozed from a festering wound on her withers. Her legs were stained with feces and urine, a sign that she was laying in her own excrement, Parrott testified.
According to MSPCA records:
* Bailey, a 16-year-old male, was thin, bordering on emaciated and lame on both front legs due to severe arthritis in one knee and a diseased left front hoof.
* Blake, a 10-year-old stallion, was thin and should have been castrated for health reasons.
* Baboo, an Arabian mare, age unknown, was thin and long overdue to have her hoofs trimmed.
* Lucy could not be examined because she was dangerous.
Parkhurst testified she gave Richardson recommendations for feeding, watering, veterinary care and cleaning. Richardson told Parkhurst she changed food and added a supplement, but after several days Parkhurst saw no overall improvements in conditions at the farm.
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| Remy as she appeared after being in the care of the MSPCA, having regained weight. Courtesy MSPCA |
Richardson allegedly told officials that the brutal winter with deep snow made it difficult to reach the horses. Parkhurst testified that Richardson allegedly said she had used up her hay delivery and was buying a bale of hay daily because that was all that would fit in her car.
Richardson was cordial and cooperative in dealing with officials, they said.
When Richardson allegedly disclosed that caring for the horses was becoming a financial hardship, Parkhurst suggested a voluntary surrender of three horses, Remy, Bailey and Blake. Baboo was given to a neighbor and Lucy remained on the farm.
(Lowell Sun - Feb 5, 2016)
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