Regarding felony animal torture: Elvis

One of three felony animal torture counts is related to a horse named Elvis.

Check out the Turn 3 Ranch Photo Albums on Facebook to see pictures of Elvis, a young horse that was critically injured during and after the seizure, allowed to suffer without vet care for weeks, and then finally euthanized after being trampled.

Court documents show that while Elvis presented with a minor limp prior to the seizure, the complications that manifested after the horses were mismanaged by Jackson County Animal Control led to his death.

March 14—ACO Wheaton on site and did not see any signs of discomfort with Elvis.

March 15—Mercier first notices Elvis has a limp.

March 16—ACO Wheaton on site and did not see any signs of discomfort with Elvis. He is examined by Dr. Sray, who testified the horse was not showing hip pain or discomfort, but some weakness or soreness on the right. Mercier has appointment for Dr. Irving to examine Elvis and Ice that afternoon. Mercier later forced to reschedule for March 21 due to extended meeting with ACO Wheaton.

March 20—Mercier forced to vacate premises that morning. ACO Wheaton on site during the day, did not see any signs of discomfort with Elvis. Dr. Altemose and Dr. Chickering examined horses and farm, and did not offer testimony regarding Elvis’ injury. ACO Dunlap canceled March 21 appointment. Despite Dr. Sray's recommendation, no veterinarian care was provided by Animal Control until March 27.

March 20—ACO Wheaton first noticed that Elvis was “dragging his leg” when he passed in front of the headlights of a truck during the late evening hours. ACO Wheaton was not concerned and felt it appropriate to monitor the horse.

March 21—ACO Wheaton checked on Elvis and did not notice any obvious problems other than the limp. Brad Chaltry examined Elvis and noticed that he had a "really sore back leg" he did not want to move around on.

March 27—Dr. Hammer examined Elvis and described him as “severely lame" ... "the horse was very sore on the hip" ... "almost to the point of refusing to move.”

March 27 through April 10—Prosecution offers no testimony relative to Elvis' condition or treatment during this time.

April 11—Elvis suddenly taken to MSU by Leelanau Horse Rescue personnel, examined by Dr. Marteniuk. MSU is told he was found on the ground and initially thought to be dead, recumbent and needed assistance to rise. It was believed that Elvis had been trampled by the seventeen horses in the group.

Animal Control had been in charge of the farm and the horses for three weeks. According to testimony, he was not critically injured at the time the farm was seized. However, the prosecution claims the defendants are responsible for felony animal torture with regard to Elvis' condition.

Elvis was euthanized at MSU, and Dr. Kurt Williams performed a necropsy. He found that Elvis was suffering from osteochondrosis, a poorly understood degenerative disease of the bones. This condition would render Elvis more likely to be injured by other horses.

Contrary to the testimony given about Elvis’s condition from March 20 through April 11, Dr. Williams testified that Elvis should have been acting severely lame prior to April 11.

This information would lead an intelligent person to conclude that Animal Control failed to provide adequate veterinary care, or even to notice the horse was suffering for weeks. The secondary injury was likely sustained during the seizure on March 20, where it is alleged that volunteers mixed segregated groups of horses which often leads to fighting and kicking.