Tennessee: Jonesborough woman Judy Smith, 60, charged with cruelty after colt, pig found in poor condition

TENNESSEE -- A Jonesborough woman had two farm animals taken from her and now faces charges of animal cruelty after officials found the livestock without food or water and in filthy conditions, according to Washington County records.

One of the animals — a 1-year-old miniature colt — was in such bad shape by the time Washington County/Johnson City Animal Control found out and could take action that it died nine days after being taken from its owner.

Judy Smith, 239 Archer Road, located in the Lamar community, was booked into the Washington County Detention Center on Thursday on three counts of animal cruelty and one count of failure to get rabies for a dog. Smith posted a 3,000 bond and was released the same day.

Animal Control Officer Wayne Thomas said he was sent to Smith’s residence March 4 after an anonymous call about a horse, a pig and possibly a goat on the woman’s property that were not being fed or watered. Thomas said he went there the same day. He didn’t find a goat, but did find the miniature horse and two pigs living in the same enclosure.

Thomas said the enclosure’s floor was muddy and covered in feces, and there was no evidence of any food or water. He said the horse was very thin and had mud caked in its hair. One pig appeared to be in acceptable condition, but the other one had a collar embedded in it’s neck, he said.

Smith wasn’t home a the time, so the only thing Thomas could do was leave a notice that he had been to check on the animals. He said Smith called him later that same day, and he asked her about the condition of the animals.

“She said she gave it corn and cracked corn. She said her horse didn’t like hay, but she did give it one bale of hay a month,” Thomas said. He said the woman also said that a child who lives with her “had fed the horse before going to school that day.”

Before Thomas could seize the animals, he had to get a veterinarian to the location to confirm Thomas’ assessment. It took five days before that could happen, but the vet determined the horse and the pig with the embedded collar could be taken. Those two animals were removed the same day.

Livestock body conditions are graded on a number scale. Thomas said the colt scored 1.5 out of a possible 9, meaning it was in very poor condition. Thomas said he loaded the two animals into his Animal Control truck and took them to the county farm. The horse remained there where he was treated and cared for, but his condition was so poor that he could not recover, Thomas said.

The pig’s embedded collar was removed and the animal is now being treated. Thomas said her condition is improving. She also had a surprise for her rescuers because she gave birth to seven piglets this week. Unfortunately, Thomas said, only one has survived.

Smith is scheduled for a preliminary hearing in Washington County General Sessions Court next month.

(Johnson City Press - March 29, 2016)

Suspect: Judy Francis Smith
Age: 60
Arrest County: Washington County TN
Arrest Date: 3/24/2016
Charges:
* RABIES
* ANIMAL CRUELTY
* ANIMAL CRUELTY
* ANIMAL CRUELTY