33 Horses seized in King and Queen County, Virginia
Submitted by: United States Equestrian Rescue League (USERL)
Phone:
Date Added: 7/19/2010
July 16, 2010. Richmond, Virginia, The King and Queen County Sheriff's Office, with the assistance of the United States Equine Rescue League, Hanover County Animal Control, King William Sheriff's Department, Virginia State Police, and Orange County Sheriff's Department, conducted a search warrant at the farm of Elizabeth Newsome Amos and Robert Amos, 5172 Powcan Road in Bruington, Virginia on June 29, 2010 and removed 33 horses from the property. Three equine veterinarians were also on the property to examine the horses. The 33 horses, in various stages of neglect and starvation, were transported by volunteers of the United States Equine Rescue League to undisclosed rehabilitation facilities and foster homes.
Concerns were reported to the King and Queen County Sheriff's office in regards to animal cruelty, unsanitary conditions, lack of adequate food and water sources, lack of medical care, lack of farrier care, lack of general care and improper disposal of remains. The matter is still under investigation by the Sheriff's office and charges are pending against the owners, awaiting veterinarian reports and lab results.
On July 8, in a plea bargain agreed to minutes prior to the seizure hearing in King and Queen County General District Court, the owners agreed to surrender the 33 horses, pay $15,000 restitution in monthly payments to the USERL for the first 10 days of care, no future ownership of horses and to sell or surrender the 20 remaining horses with the new owners approved by the Sheriff's Department. King and Queen County officials and the USERL are pleased with this result.
The 33 horses, now in the permanent custody of the United States Equine Rescue League, have been placed on a carefully monitored rehabilitation program, including proper nutrition for the age and condition of the horse, veterinary and farrier care.
Newly appointed King and Queen Sheriff, John Charboneau, stated, "The Sheriff's Department takes the complaint of animal cruelty as seriously as a complaint of human cruelty." Susan White, Regional Director of the United States Equine Rescue League, stated "this was a huge undertaking for all involved due to the large number of horses on the property. It is expected it will take up to 12 months or more for all of the horses to regain their health."
The United States Equine Rescue League is a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization that assists animal control and law enforcement agencies in equine cruelty cases in Virginia, North Carolina, Indiana, Kentucky, Idaho and Colorado. Donations to help care for the horses may be sent to USERL, P.O. Box 28378, Richmond, VA 23228. Inquiries to volunteer, foster or adopt may be made by calling 800-650-8549 or visiting www.userl.org or www.userl-vard.org.
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