New York: Tod Mishler, 80, who made the news when he rode his horse across a bridge in NYC has been charged with animal cruelty

NEW YORK --  "I feel my horses have been stolen from me," the "Outerbridge Cowboy" said following his arraignment in Criminal Court Friday afternoon.

"I'm gonna try to get my horses back," he added with a somber face.

 

Tod (Doc) Mishler, the 80-year-old Western-dressed wanderer who sparked a firestorm when he rode into Staten Island over the Outerbridge Crossing on horseback earlier this week, was arraigned Friday on two counts of torturing and injuring animals for allegedly neglecting his two ponies.

Mishler pleaded not guilty during his court appearance and is due back in court on Aug. 10. After the proceeding, he said he will file papers to get the horses back.

The upstate man was in a better mood while waiting on line in the clerk's office, where he had to show the desk appearance ticket he was issued.

"I can't wait to get on the road again, living the life with a four-legged friend," he sang while on line.

But, he claims, officials told him he was never getting his horses back.

 

According to a law enforcement source, on Wednesday, the two horses, Hope II and Charity II, were evaluated by two separate and independent veterinarians who specialize in equine care. After the evaluation, both doctors determined that the horses were victims of neglect, the source said.

According to the criminal complaint, the animals were deprived food and water. They were dehydrated and had open bleeding sores on the head and face from the embedded halter, the complaint says.

One of the horses, court papers allege, had a lame rear leg due to the neglect.

"I think people think I abused these horses," he said. "You're innocent until proven guilty, but I feel like it's reverse here. I have a few sores myself. You don't travel three times across the country without caring for the horses."

Mishler, the complaint says, allegedly told officials that horses are strong and he would push them to keep walking if they were limping.

"Horses are strong, when you baby them they want to be lazy," he told authorities, according to the complaint. "I had a horse once that was limping but I made her push through it and after a couple miles, she started to walk right. I was in California and I was afraid that the police would see her limping and I would get in trouble. But after a couple miles, she started to walk right."

In interviews with police, Mishler said he had Hope II for "a couple of years and she has 16,000 miles on her." He's had Charity II for two weeks after he gave up another horse because "people were complaining he was too thin," according to court documents.

"Animals were given to man by God for their use but people have turned it into where they care more about animals than people," Mishler said, according to court documents.

On Thursday, Mishler agreed to surrender the horses after speaking with NYPD detectives, and was issued a desk appearance ticket.

The horses, the source said, are currently in the care of the ASPCA and being treated for their injuries at a Staten Island facility.

"I do miss my horses. They're my buddies," Mishler said.

The Ulster, N.Y., resident says he rides across the country on horseback to raise awareness of child hunger in the United States.

During his stay on Staten Island, he's donned a cowboy hat, brown vest, boots and a red kerchief.  He has an affinity for singing Western ballads and sharing messages about his faith.

He's garnered supporters and publicity for his endeavors, being featured in newspapers across the country as he trots from city to city.

But he's also had his critics as well.

This isn't the first time Mishler has been accused of mistreatment of his horses during his cross-country rides.

In 2011, he was arrested in Wisconsin after police there said his horses were underfed and dehydrated, but the charges were later dropped, the Wisconsin State Journal reported.

For his latest arrest, Mishler was released without bail and is due back in court on Aug. 10.

His horses are currently being treated for their injuries by the ASPCA on Staten Island, the District Attorney's office said.

Delaware-based animal advocate Christine Whaley, who started a group with a Facebook page called Stop Doc Mishler, applauded the arrest.

“We want people to understand that this man is not who he says he is,” Whaley said.

Stop Doc Mishler members described Mishler as a homeless man who had for years abused the animals that took him on what he calls his God-sent mission, carrying a Bible and quoting scriptures.

(SILive - July 1, 2016)