Man charged with neglect of animals

GLENALLEN, Mo. -- A Delta man has been charged with neglecting three of his animals on property in Glenallen. According to the Bollinger County Sheriff's Department, a horse died and two other animals were left in poor condition.

An autopsy revealed the horse starved. It had dirt and rocks in its bowels, according to an incident report filed by the sheriff's department.

Larry Hottel was charged over the weekend with a count of animal abuse and two counts of animal neglect. He could face up to a year in the county jail and a fine of up to $1,000 for each misdemeanor count, according to Bollinger County Prosecuting Attorney Steve Gray.

The condition of the animals was first reported to the Bollinger County Sheriff's Department at the end of September.

"Animal owners must be located and be given the opportunity to treat their animals and determine why the animals are in poor condition," said chief deputy Leo McElrath. He said appearance alone doesn't mean an animal has been abused. It could be sick or old.

"We have to answer these questions before legal proceedings can begin," McElrath said.

Jeffrey Woodard, a Bollinger County deputy, responded Sept. 30 to the report of the abused animals on County Road 804.

He spoke with the witness, who said she drove past a horse, a pony and a llama that appeared to be neglected in a fenced-in area.

"You could see all the horse's ribs and hip bones. All the animals were obviously neglected," Woodard's report read.

Woodard reported a bridle placed too tightly had started to cut into the horse's head along the bridge of its nose and on the left jaw line. Woodard reported there was no fresh water or feed to be found.

The sheriff's department contacted the Humane Society, which gave Hottel a time frame to have his horse, pony and llama checked by a veterinarian and the records submitted to the sheriff's department to avoid prosecution for animal neglect.

But Hottel's horse was found dead in his pasture Friday, according to the sheriff's department, and Woodard was again dispatched to the scene.

"I looked at the horse, the pony and the llama. I checked the pasture for hay, water and feed. There wasn't any provided for the animals," Woodard said in his report.

As law enforcement officials waited for final lab results on the horse, Hottel called the sheriff's department Saturday to report the death of his horse.

"He informed me he was mad because someone killed his horse," Woodard reported.

Woodard arrested Hottel and then transported him to the sheriff's office for processing. Hottel was released from jail Sunday and issued three summonses, according to the sheriff's department.

McElrath said he didn't believe there was a trend of animal neglect and abuse in the area, "but I think what we're going to have to watch is with the high price of hay and the shortage of hay. We're going to have to keep a close watch on farm animals, especially horses and cattle this winter."

However, help is available through the Humane Society and state agencies, McElrath said.