SEQUIM — The owner of severely malnourished horses seized last month from a pasture in Sequim has agreed to give up custody of all of her animals, according to the Clallam County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.
Clallam County Deputy Prosecutor Tracey Lassus said late Wednesday that the attorney for Buffy Campbell and the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office have negotiated an agreement for Campbell to relinquish the horses permanently.
That means there will be no civil court hearing at 2 p.m. today as originally scheduled.
Campbell, 41, was scheduled to ask for the return of the horses she and her daughter, Heather Gouldart, 19, kept in a rented pasture off Olson Road southwest of Sequim.
The Clallam County Sheriff’s Office seized the horses on Feb. 16, saying the animals were suffering varying degrees of starvation and malnutrition and were estimated to be underweight by between 50 and 200 pounds each.
No criminal charges have been filed.
Lassus said charges are pending.
Twelve of the horses will be released to the Sheriff’s Office for transfer to reputable, registered animal rescue organizations, Lassus said.
Four horses will be returned to other individuals who have been identified by the Sheriff’s Office as their legal owners.
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Reporter Arwyn Rice can be reached at 360-417-3535 or at arwyn.rice@peninsuladailynews.com.
