SEQUIM — All but three of the 16 horses seized by the Clallam County Sheriff’s Office from a pasture near Sequim in February have been taken by rescue organizations and the horses’ former owners.
The Clallam County Sheriff’s Office seized the horses Feb. 16, saying the animals were suffering from varying degrees of starvation and malnutrition and were estimated to be underweight by between 50 and 200 pounds each.
The horses were seized after a veterinarian certified that their condition represented severe neglect, said Deputy Tracey Kellas, Clallam County Sheriff’s Office’s animal control officer.
All are recovering. Some are being sheltered temporarily and need permanent homes, Kellas said.
No charges filed
Charges have not been filed.
Prosecutors are making sure all of the details in the case are perfect, Kellas said.
The horses were the responsibility of Buffy Campbell, 41, and her daughter, Heather Gouldart, 19, who kept the horses in a rented pasture off Olson Road southwest of Sequim.
Campbell agreed to give up custody of the horses to the Sheriff’s Office on March 12.
In February, the owner of the property rented by Campbell called the Sheriff’s Office, concerned that the horses were in severely malnourished condition.
Two of the horses were given only a 50 percent chance of surviving at the time they were seized.
Both horses pulled through, but they and the others still have a long road ahead of them for a full recovery, Kellas said.
“They have put on some fat and no longer have ribs sticking out but still have to replace a lot of lost muscle” she said.
Kellas said all of them have some kind of problem, either mental or physical, after their ordeal.
Three of the 16 were still being cared for by the county Thursday, and others had found temporary or permanent homes with horse rescue organizations or had gone to former owners, Kellas said.
Homes pending
Two of the three horses still in county custody have a home pending, Kellas said.
The only horse remaining is Dudley, a 4-year-old Morgan-cross gelding who was a stallion until only a few weeks ago.
“He’s a sweet boy,” Kellas said.
“He likes to be petted, and he wants to be with people,” she said.
Kellas explained that any adoptive home for Dudley will need solid fencing, since it takes several months for testosterone levels to drop in a newly gelded stallion.
Equine Network
Several of the seized horses are being cared for by the Olympic Peninsula Equine Network, a Carlsborg-area horse rescue organization operating under Eyes that Smile, a registered 501(c)(3) not-for-profit horse rescue organization.
The rescue organization is caring for Karma, a severely undersized yearling pinto; a 2-year-old purebred Arabian filly; an aged thoroughbred mare; and Snowball, a black pony.
Most of the rescued horses are extremely friendly, especially the Arabian filly, who follows people around her pasture in hopes of a petting and a treat.
Up for adoption soon
The horses have been getting training in basic manners and will soon be put up for adoption, said Valerie Jackson and Diane Royall, vice presidents of the organization.
The adoption fee for each horse will be about $500 to help cover a small portion of the cost of their care, but it could be more or less depending on the animal and the degree of care it required, Royall said.
Potential adoptive owners are required to provide references, have an inspection of their horse facility and go through horse ownership education, she said.
The Olympic Peninsula Equine Network can be contacted at 360-457-4677 or through the group’s Facebook page at http://tinyurl.com/c2kt6yx.
The county, which has received donations for the animals’ care, is seeking more to rebuild the fund for animal-related emergencies, which is in debt for veterinary bills and horse feed, Kellas said.
She wants to augment the fund so it is available in case of another emergency.
“These things have to happen quickly and quietly,” Kellas said.
To donate, phone the Sheriff’s Office at 360-417-2459.
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Reporter Arwyn Rice can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5070, or at arwyn.rice@peninsuladailynews.com.
