The Ellis County Press: Judge grants custody of horse

Judge grants custody of horse
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Megan Gray on 10/21/2010 12:57:00


LANCASTER - Dallas County Justice of the Peace Pct.1-2 Judge Valencia Nash
awarded custody of a horse seized under the authority of the Dallas County
Constable’s office from a Dallas property on Tuesday, Oct. 12, to the Society
of Prevention and Cruelty to Animals of Texas.
Nash also awarded restitution in the amount of $939.40 to the SPCA of Texas.
However, the SPCA of Texas does not expect to actually receive any of this money
to help offset costs according to a news release issued on the matter.
Texas state statute says the owners have the right to appeal this court’s
decision within the next ten days. If no appeal is filed during that time, then
the SPCA of Texas will begin the process of evaluating the horse for potential
adoption or placement.
The horse was removed from the owner’s custody on Wednesday, Oct. 13 suffering
from severely overgrown hooves by Dallas County Constable Glen McGee and Chief
SPCA Investigator Colby Grady.
According to the SPCA and veterinarians working on the horse, overgrown hooves
are exceedingly painful and cause very limited mobility for the horse.
The horse’s tail and mane were extremely matted with reports by SPCA of Texas
investigators describing the horse was unable to "swish" it due to the amount of
debris build up.
The matting has also caused a skin infection under the horse’s mane.
Texas state statute says the owners have the right to appeal this court’s
decision within the next ten days. If no appeal is filed during that time, then
the SPCA of Texas will begin the process of evaluating the horse for potential
adoption or placement.
An SPCA of Texas vehicle transported the horse to the Perry Animal Care Center
in McKinney, where it was examined by medical staff and cared for until the
custody hearing.