Animal control looks out of controlMore about the auctions:
Posted by Jackson Citizen Patriot
October 28, 2007 06:22AM
Categories: Voice of the People
OWOSSO — We need more voices of the people heard concerning the Turn-3 Ranch horses.
It is about time the news shows the truth about the care of the Turn-3 horses after animal control took them over. I would like to say what it looks like to someone who does not live in that county.
All appearances show an animal control out of control. How can these horses be sold before there is a trial proving guilt of the owners? How is it that trucks, trailers, feed bills, health records, registration papers, medications, saddles and anything else in the barn can be taken by animal control? Why did the news focus only on the older mares that lost some weight through the winter? There are many more questions with no answers.
What is happening to animal control? This kind of thing is going on in other states, too, not just Michigan.
Animal control needs a new shelter. In the eyes of many, it looks like these horses and equipment are taken and sold to go toward the new shelter. People want answers. Where are we going to get those answers if not from Jackson County?
If this is allowed to go on, will every horse owner live in fear of someone from animal control coming on their property to take everything they own for any reason they can dream up? What ever happened to innocent until proven guilty?
— Carol Palembas
County rushes to sell horses before trialYet another one:
Posted by Jackson Citizen Patriot
October 23, 2007 09:59AM
Categories: Voice of the People
SPRINGPORT — After reports that horses that Jackson County Animal Control ran through a livestock auction last month looked skinny and lacked basic care, I went to a recent auction. While this batch of horses seemed to be fed adequately, it appeared their hooves were very overgrown and that they had signs of intestinal worms.
Where is the money going that Jackson County demands for the "care" of these horses, which it is now selling for as little as $100 a head? Just read the newspaper: Officials are replacing their condemned, filthy and disease-ridden animal shelter with a highly criticized, $1.3 million move.
They're doing this on the backs of horses unjustly taken from their rightful owners, who have yet to go to trial on the charges made against them. No warnings were issued. No attempt was made to investigate why these horses would be thin. Instead, animal control rolled in and took over the farm, animals, vehicles and whatever it could get its hands on. County officials found a horse-ignorant judge who believes, among other ridiculous notions, that you must not care about your animals if you buy used tack.
Visit the forums at GLHorseTruth.com. Every animal owner should be angry. Innocent until proven guilty is not the modus operandi for Jackson County. And the nation is watching the outcome of this case.
— Shantell Coats
Horses not getting high-priced care
Posted by Jackson Citizen Patriot
October 07, 2007 06:03AM
Categories: Voice of the People
BROOKLYN — I attended the Napoleon auction for the Grass Lake horses Sept. 15 and was appalled at their condition.
These horses appeared skinny and wormy, and had horrible feet. These animals were not the recipients of $22,000-per-month care. As a lifetime horse owner and hay farmer, I felt compelled to donate and deliver $500 worth of hay April 10 and got a close look at all the horses on that farm at that time. Other than shedding out their winter hair, these horses were in no better condition Sept. 15.
I would like to know if all the donations were taken into consideration when coming up with the total dollar figure of $143,000 for compensation.
It was not my intent to donate something only for the county to charge someone else for my generosity. Nobody took my name and, to my knowledge, there was no record of who I was or how much I donated. Did anyone get a receipt for anything? I certainly didn't. Leelanau Horse Rescue is a nonprofit organization, and any donation made should be tax-deductible.
These animals have not received the basic care that a $150-per-month pasture boarding facility would give, and Jackson County Animal Control is not paying board. To state that it costs $300 per month only for feed for each animal is outrageous. Believe me, these horses didn't even see a quarter of that.
— Kathy Brown
JCP ~ your readers are aware of the situation. When will your reporting reflect what your readers have witnessed for themselves?
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