AR-News: (NC - US) Woman who used to care for homeless horses faces cruelty charges

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Horse Owner Faces Animal Cruelty Charges



Group Discovers Abuse; Contacts Authorities

POSTED: 6:40 pm EDT April 20, 2004
UPDATED: 7:01 pm EDT April 20, 2004

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. -- A woman in Johnston County who used to take care of 
homeless horses is now facing several charges of animal cruelty.

Johnston County authorities say they have issued seven warrants for the 
arrest of Evelyn Shackley, who used to run the Hobby Horse Farm. Shackley now faces 
seven charges of animal cruelty.    

Christy Whittington of the Equine Rescue League, a nonprofit organization 
that rescues and rehabilitates abused animals, said the ERL found the abused 
horses when they went to Shackley's property for a routine visit.
"(The property) is a former foster home for the rescue league. We came out to 
do a regular check of two of the fosters (Shackley) had," Whittington said.
The two horses were found thin, frail and infected with worms. The ERL also 
found seven of Shackely's horses with visible signs of starvation.
"Several of the horses, we believe, had been left on the property for a 
period of time," Whittington said. "We believe they would have been at risk for 
colic or death."
Jennifer Hack of the ERL said the edge of the rib cage of one of the horses 
was clearly visible and it's spine had a prominent dip in it.
"Another month and it may have been hard to save her," Hack told NBC 17.
The ERL has investigated 53 cases of horse abuse in the Triangle this year. 
They say with education many of the owners get to keep their horses, but in 
this case they had to take action.
After Shackley refused to surrender the horses to the ERL, they contacted 
Johnston County authorities. All of the horses on Shackley's property are now 
being moved to another foster home.
NBC 17 attempted to contact Shackley several times, but she did not return 
any phone calls. Copyright 2004 by <A HREF="mailto:webstaff at NBC17.com">NBC17.com</A>. 




    
    

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