Horses recover from abuse
CHASE PURDY/STAFF
SPCA Director Debbie Caywood watches several horses Tuesday in Steeles Tavern.
Related Links
• Video clip from Mountain View Equine Hospital
TERRY SULLIVAN COVERAGE
• Horses seized
• Sullivan convicted
AREA ANIMAL ABUSE CASES
• Horse put down, man charged
• 34 horses seized
• Breeder barred from owning dogs
• 200 pages detail cruelty
STEELES TAVERN – Leading up to the seizure of more than two-dozen emaciated horses from a Staunton farm, Augusta County authorities checked the animals monthly and found they’d been fed, a county official said Tuesday.
Some of the horses were more than 200 pounds underweight, said Scott Reiners, a veterinary surgeon at Mountain View Equine Hospital in Steeles Tavern, where the animals are recuperating. They were seized last week from convicted animal abuser Terry Lynn Sullivan, 61. One of the animals was found dead.
“They look like somebody coming out of a concentration camp,” Reiners said.
Examinations of the seized animals found that almost two thirds of them suffered from parasites and malnourishment, officials said. Some of the horses are pregnant.
Brigette Berbes, of Staunton, said she called the Augusta County Administrator’s Office last month after driving by the farm and noticing the horses picking at tree bark. The Administrator’s Office oversees animal control officers.
“Their main question seemed to be who’s going to be financially responsible for these animals,” Berbes said.
County Assistant Administrator John McGehee said animal control officers made routine visits to Sullivan’s farm.
“All I know is they said the last time they were there, the horses had hay,” McGehee said. “I think they checked basically on a monthly basis. Sure, in hindsight we’d like to check every other day, but you just can’t do that.”
Mountain View Equine Hospital agreed to rehabilitate and care for the horses after the seizure, just one sign of the community’s willingness to pull together to help financially, Berbes said.
Nineteen of the 30 seized horses scored between a 1 and 2 on a scale of 1 to 10. The low scores, based on an American Humane Association scale, indicate poor body condition, said Debbie Caywood, director of the Augusta County Regional Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
“They’re like skeletons with hides stretched across themselves right now,” Caywood said. “If these horses make it through the next week to 10 days, they’ll have a shot at survival.”
Sullivan, who has not been charged, could not be reached for comment.
The former president of the Fern Leigh Equine Foundation, Sullivan was convicted of animal cruelty in 1996 and 2008.
Reiners said the seized horses have been placed on a high-protein diet. He expects the least healthy horses to be ready for adoption within five months.
Last week’s seizure marked the second time in less than a year that authorities have hauled more than two dozen horses from a local farm.
In March, Waynesboro Animal Control seized 34 horses from Tory Allen Garrett, of Afton. Authorities charged Garrett with animal cruelty.
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Reader Reactions
To youngs24, don’t blame the local SPCA. They have been fighting this fight for many years. Blame the judge that gave her a slap on the wrist and blame Terry Lynn Sullivan, who, by virtue of her own decisions put these precious animals at risk. As an equine owner and lover for 50+ years this case absolutely makes me ill. I don’t live anywhere near Augusta, but will plan to be in court, if she actually gets charged.Already have made plans to deliver hay and supplies. Our collective anger needs an outlet. Let it be to benefit the horses.
To the Veterinarians at Mountain View Equine Hospital-BRAVO!! The horses left in their care will finally be treated with diginity and compassion that they deserve. It’s a shame that people with this type of history are permitted to have any animals. It really says a lot about Mountain View Equine Hospital- to once again step up to help poor mistreated horses. True compassion!!! Thank you!
What a tragedy. This woman is very sick. I certainly hope the Judge and the prosecutor see the immediate need to stop this abuse and stand up for helpless animals like these horses. She has been given two chances, has shown she still has no respect for God’s creatures and is apparently too stupid to learn from her past experiences. Hope she gets put away (with little to eat and drink) this time.
The fault lay’s with the Courts, Animal Control and the SPCA. They knew this woman was out there, but it took a dead horse and several abused horses to do anything about it.
This woman was still in the process of appealing the judge’s decision that she not own any horses for two years. Animal control should have been checking more closely than riding by once a month. Animal control was well aware of her history of abuse and neglect, so during the time since all pasture has been covered in snow and the temperatures so low, there should have been closer checks on the welfare of these poor horses. They didn’t get 200 pounds underweight in a month.
This woman should not be allowed to own a fish. If we can’t get this woman under control, it is time to bring charges against the actual owners of the property. They are responsible for what goes on on the property they lease to Sullivan. Go after their Landlord’s insurance and you will quickly see them shut down her horse abuse operation.
Don’t just ride by and make a call. Take pictures and send the pictures by e-mail to the animal control department. You will get much more attention if there is picture proof.
Augusta County is the 2nd largest in the state, geographically. County Animal Control officers have to monitor the entire county and there are only 3 of them. It is up to us, the citizens of this county, to be the eyes and ears for them. If you see anything disturbing with regard to the care (or lack of) of ANY animal, please do the right thing by calling ACACO at 540-245-5635. The more detail you can provide them with, the more power they’ll have to enforce the laws. It’s up to all of us to work together!
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