AR-News: (TX - US)Doctor on probation for animal cruelty is at it again

[Snugglezzz at aol.com]

Doctor faces more animal cruelty claims
 
Horses removed from woman's Wise County ranch after complaints

10:42 PM CDT on Monday, June 7, 2004
 

By DEBRA DENNIS / The Dallas Morning News
 
Five dead horses and more than two dozen others in declining health were removed Sunday from the Wise County ranch of a Southlake doctor who is serving probation for animal cruelty. 

Elizabeth Rohr, a family practitioner, is serving probation for failing to properly care for horses she kept on her 837-acre ranch. 

Dr. Rohr has not been charged with any new crimes. A warrant for animal cruelty has been issued against her, said her Fort Worth attorney, Gerald Staton. He said the doctor would turn herself in this week. 

Last year, Dr. Rohr pleaded no contest to two misdemeanor counts of animal cruelty and was fined $1,250. As part of the plea bargain, the doctor was ordered to complete 80 hours of community service and serve two years' probation. 

In the recent case, Dr. Rohr is accused of abusing horses in her care. 

"We found 27 animals that were emaciated or very sick," said Wise County Sheriff Doug Whitehead. 

The sheriff's department is investigating operations at the doctor's ranch in Paradise. 

Wise County officials and the North Texas Humane Society seized the horses after a search of Ms. Rohr's property Sunday. They found five horses had died and were in various stages of decomposition, officials said. 

Mr. Staton denied that the horses were mistreated. He said they were in good condition – and some were overweight. 

"I don't know why they would come in and take healthy horses," Mr. Staton said. "It is not unusual to have horses die in the field. Horses die for a lot of reasons. They die of old age. They die giving birth. Coyotes get a hold of them." 

He said Dr. Rohr has three caretakers who tend to her herd of 300 horses. She spends thousands of dollars monthly to care for the animals, he said. 

Dr. Rohr has horses of various ages including a Paint horse valued at $20,000. There are also Arabians and exotic ponies, Mr. Staton said. 

Local veterinarians are treating the seized horses. 

Officials said they launched the investigation after Wise County animal control officers received several complaints regarding the condition of horses on the property. 

E-mail debdennis at dallasnews.com