Michael Wendell Cabbler, 62, also faces seven misdemeanor counts of inadequate care of agricultural animals. He was arrested March 10 and taken to the Franklin County Jail; he has since been released, according to online records.
Animal control officer Cindy Brooks said officials found five emaciated thoroughbred mares eating bark off trees in the pasture connected to Cabbler’s home on Feb. 25. The horses had no food or water, and some had markings on their faces where their halters had not been removed for an undetermined amount of time.
Cabbler LIED and told officers there were no more animals on the property, but Brooks found two stallions trapped in a barn filled with muck and manure. The mud had sealed the stall door, forcing officers to pry the back wall off the building.
Cabbler surrendered the horses to animal control but offered no explanation for their condition, Brooks said. They were taken to Roanoke Valley Horse Rescue, where they have gained at least 25 pounds each, rescue founder Pat Muncy said last week.
One of the stallions — a thoroughbred renamed Captain Hook — won $357,000 as a racehorse. Officials determined that three of the other rescued animals were also racehorses through tattoos on their upper lips.
Cabbler is scheduled for trial May 19, according to online court records.
(Roanoke Times - Mar 16, 2016)
No comments:
Post a Comment