By Brian Livingston
blivingston@themeridianstar.com
A Lauderdale County judge will make a ruling Monday as to whether seven horses will be returned to their owner in Russell or not.
On Wednesday morning, the last of the horses was removed from the residence of a woman after reports of alleged animal abuse was reported by county officials and concerned citizens.
"We were notified of the complaints and we investigated the alleged abuse," said Ward Calhoun Friday, chief deputy for the Lauderdale County Sheriff's Department. "We seized the horses after the county attorney drew up the seizure papers and they were signed by a judge."
Officials with the LCSD then turned the horses over to the East Mississippi Animal Rescue League. The seven horses that survived have been transferred to an animal rescue facility in Chunky. Kim Blanton, owner of Coyote Hills Stable where the horses are being cared for now said recently the horses were in bad shape suffering from diarrhea and dehydration.
Calhoun said the department had no facilities in which to keep the horses.
"We are still actively investigating this case and charges may be forthcoming," said Calhoun.
"When I saw the pictures, it was obvious to me that they had not been fed and were being neglected," said Lauderdale County Attorney Justin Cobb earlier this week.
Cobb said he has now filed criminal charges for animal neglect against the owner. If found guilty, he says she could face up to six months in jail for each of the nine charges.
County Judge Frank Coleman is expected to issue a ruling Monday on whether the owner may reclaim the horses. But Calhoun said no matter what civil court ruling Coleman hands down, criminal animal abuse charges could still be pending against the owner.
Published reports said the horses were all being kept in small 10X10 pens before they were rescued. They now have 30 acres in which to graze and raise their weight back up to where it should be.
A fund to help with the care of the horses, including food and veterinarian care, has been set up at any Citizens National Bank in Meridian.
