REPUBLIC - Humane Society of Seneca County continues to investigate a situation involving a Republic woman who surrendered 16 horses from a Scipio Township farm after a concern with animal welfare was raised.
Seneca County Sheriff's Office had received a call about an injured horse and transferred it to Humane Society of Seneca County. The property at 8900 E. CR 24 is owned by Carol Young, who could not be reached for comment Tuesday night.
"We had been out there in the past. ... (The investigation) takes time," said Janie Hohman, executive director of Humane Society of Seneca County.
According to a Humane Society of Seneca County statement, Young agreed to surrender her 16 horses to Humane Society of Seneca County, and by surrendering them to the agency, they could be transported to an equine rescue facility immediately. Hohman said one colt that was left at the farm did not belong to Young.
The statement said transportation of the horses could not be done in one day, and it took about three days to complete the task because of their lack of training. Most of the herd was wild, it states.
Barb Brooks, a Humane Society of Seneca County agent who visited the farm, said an injured filly with birth defects in her legs was the animal that prompted the initial report to the sheriff's office. The filly, she said, had to be euthanized.
"It was done at the site," she said.
Brooks said she did not know whether any more horses were euthanized.
She said an agent has the authority to file charges in municipal court. No charges had been filed in relation to the Republic situation as of Tuesday, Hohman said.
Brooks said Humane Society of Seneca County officials need people to be their eyes and ears because they can't see every animal in the county. Animals can't speak for themselves, and the agency needs people who are willing to call when they see something wrong so it can get involved, she said.
"Our No. 1 goal is to educate. ... Charges are not our No. 1 goal. Education is," she said.
