Detective Dana Guthrie said officers observed numerous animals on the property with no food or water.
Guthrie said land owner Jim Stinson, 66, of 14570 state Highway 77, was cooperative with authorities for most of the day before being booked into the McClain County Jail around 4:30 p.m.
Assisting the McClain County Sheriff’s Department were investigators from the Oklahoma Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners, veterinarians from the Department of Agriculture, veterinarians from Riverbend Mobile Veterinary Clinic in Cleveland County and members of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) from Tulsa.
Investigators were on the scene from 8:30 a.m. until 5 p.m. Monday.
The livestock was being removed from the operation Monday.
The goats, pigs, chickens and rabbits went to the SPCA location in Tulsa, Guthrie said.
He said the cattle were taken to a location in Canadian County for rehabilitation.
“The mule went straight to a vet clinic,” Guthrie said. “It doesn’t look good for that animal.
“It’s pretty bad when you can count the ribs on the cows from the road,” Guthrie continued.
“Mr. Stinson said there was grass, but the grass is as short as a golf course.
“The animals have eaten the tree limbs as high as they can go, bark off trees and have eaten all the grass,” Guthrie said.
The detective also said there is no telling how long it’s been since the horse was tended to by a farrier.
“The hoofs are so long they are turning back up. I don’t know how they are walking.
“It’s sad,” Guthrie continued. “I understand hard times like last year when there was no hay, but these animals don’t have feed.”
Animals were transported so they could be fed and watered properly, Guthrie said.
“And, it’s a health issue,” he said. “There are dead carcasses all over the property. When an animal dies he just leaves them to rot. We will be digging holes to bury them.”
The entire property was covered with fleas and ticks, lawmen said as they continued their investigation.
“We have private veterinarians donating their time in addition to the state officials,” Guthrie said. “It’s really disturbing.”
There were three heifers, one yearling bovine, one mule, 20 goats and 42 chickens, one bull, one pig, one llama, eight rabbits and two dogs that were taken from the property at the time of the warrant execution.
Stinson faces 32 counts of improper disposal of animal carcasses and multiple counts of animal cruelty.
“When we complete our investigation those potential charges will be turned over to the district attorney,” Guthrie said.
The detective said investigators found in excess of 100 remains of dead animal carcasses on the property.
“State statue says you either have to burn a carcass or bury it at least six feet deep if they are within 1/4 mile of a public highway or roadway or an occupied dwelling.
“In this case both were true,” Guthrie said.
Also at the scene Monday were employees of McClain County District No. 1 that disposed of the carcasses.
“They were there for 3 1/2 hours,” Guthrie said.
(The Purcell Register - June 21, 2012)
