Maureen Lee, 43, of Raeford has been charged with felony animal neglect as well as resisting and obstructing officers. She is jailed under a $10,000 secured bond.
The veterinarian filed a report to law enforcement stating that a horse on property at 7950 Arabia Rd. had to be euthanized due to malnutrition.
After securing a warrant, deputies found horses, dogs, cats, goats and birds on the property.
Hoke County Sheriff Hubert Peterkin said this is one of the worst cases he has seen in his 14 years as sheriff.
“It was sad to see those animals. It’s like they were happy to see us, the minute we opened the barn to let the horses out, they ran out and wanted to eat on the grass. It was like they know the help had come,” Peterkin said. “Had we not gotten notification when we did, we would have a lot of dead animals.”
Peterkin doesn’t think Lee had malicious intention but thinks she let things get out of hand.
“There is no way she could not have seen what we saw. No way she couldn’t have known these animals were suffering and dying,” Peterkin said.
The Hoke County Sheriff’s deputies have reached out to the ASPCA for assistance.
The investigation is still being conducted.
(WBTW - July 22, 2016)
I would like to open a discussion about how to evaluate claims of neglect like these. Visual evidence posted here & online by Fayetteville Observer raises questions. It is said that the animals lacked food & water, but the dogs would have been thin & dehydrated if this were true, & those pictured looked fat & healthy. Even the dog lying down (dead, tranquilized, asleep?) looks in good condition. You can see ribs on several horses, but not severely. Don't know this person & am not trying to whitewash the situation, but I think the facts need to be gotten in detail before this "neglect" is sensationalized.
ReplyDeleteI have know Maureen Lee for 13 years, she has been a rescuer a her life, she has never starved any animal. All of the animals on her farm had vet records, there was feed and hay in the barn. This is nothing but a vendetta because Maureen turned this county in to PETA because they always left their shelter over weekends and long weekends with no feed, water and no cleaning kennels. They are out to get back at her. There is a page on facebook. Witch hunt in Hoke County nc, justice for Maureen lee. Go there and see the truth!
ReplyDeleteWe all know you are her best friend Celeita Ann Breakiron. There were over 120 animals in horrible condition.
ReplyDelete