The horse's hoof was smoking from the friction with the road
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SUGARCREEK HORSES – MONICA – OT
Posted by: “Bonnie Oliver” friesians2@casinternet.net friesians2
Wed Jun 6, 2007 11:18 am (PST)
Sorry about the small print. Here ya go…
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Man charged with cruelty after incident with horse
By JOE MIZER, T-R Staff Writer
In the aftermath of what she described as “a gory sight – probably one of
the worst things I’ve seen in the last month,” Tuscarawas County Humane
Officer Dawn Smitley Sunday charged Chester L. Thompson, 80, of 81800
Barricklow Ln., Cadiz, with animal cruelty on Sunday.
Thompson faces the cruelty charge for carrying or conveying two horses in a
cruel or inhumane manner after one of the horses was injured when it fell
and its foot dragged on pavement for several miles.
Smitley explained that Thompson, who was hauling the horses in a low,
flatbed trailer with their heads tied down, was stopped at New Philadelphia
after a witness got his attention.
The horse’s hoof, according to police officers and witnesses, was smoking
from the friction with the road.
Smitley said the witness, who was following Thompson’s vehicle, saw the
horse go down in the trailer on Rt. 39 west of Dover and tried to get him to
stop at that time.
It wasn’t until Thompson turned south onto I-77 at Dover, however, that the
witness was able to get beside him and alert him that the horse was down and
its leg was dragging. Thompson then drove about another mile before exiting
at New Philadelphia, Smitley said.
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Police were alerted at 4:31 p.m. that the minivan pulling the trailer was
stopped at the Eagle Truck Stop on W. High Ave., and officers contacted
Smitley, who contacted a veterinarian.
A veterinarian met Smitley at the scene, and the horse was transferred to a
suitable trailer then taken to a nearby farm and treated. Smitley had
Thompson’s trailer impounded, and she also took custody of the horses.
The injured animal, a yearling mare, she added, is expected to lose all of
the skin from stiffle over the hock on the one leg. She said, however, that
it was standing and was able to walk to the transfer trailer.
Smitley said she seized the animals because of the way they were being
hauled and because Thompson was not going to get veterinarian assistance.
She said he wanted to put the injured horse back onto his trailer and
continue driving to Cadiz.
The horses reportedly were purchased Friday at the Sugarcreek Livestock
Auction and were picked up Sunday by Thompson.
Thompson was allowed to leave because of his age and health condition,
Smitley said. She added that she is preparing a report for the prosecutor.
