Those trying to save abused animals can put themselves in a precarious legal position

When Shery Varney saw the deplorable condition of 15 horses at a property near Fruitland in Cape Girardeau County, her only goal was to get as many of them safely out of the situation as quickly as possible, she said.

She and three others approached the owner, who realized she could no longer take adequate care of her animals and agreed to relinquish seven of the animals, Varney said.

"I just wanted to load as many of the horses as I could to get them out of there," she said.

Varney's actions Tuesday led to the seizure of the remaining horses by the Humane Society of Missouri the following morning so they could be cared for and treated, said Kyle Held, a cruelty investigator for the Humane Society.

Still, Varney and the others put themselves in a precarious legal situation because they had no paperwork to prove the owner was giving up the animals, Held said.

"I realize their hearts were in the right place," he said.

Held cautioned people to step back and assess the situation carefully when they happen upon an animal that has been abused or neglected.

"Don't try and take it upon yourself if you don't have the means to do it," he said.

The Humane Society has more than 100 years of experience at getting animals out of bad situations and has its own cruelty investigators trained to know exactly how and under what circumstances they can seize animals. Local sheriff's departments are good resources, too, Held said, because officers are aware of the laws concerning animals and can contact Humane Society investigators if they need assistance.

Though Held's advice is to always consult local authorities first, sometimes people may find themselves in the same predicament as Varney. She called her veterinarian because she did not know who to contact. In those situations, the consequences have to be carefully weighed, he said.

"I'm still not clear on who I should have called," said Varney, who contacted the vet and another person before a friend gave her a number to reach Held.

Varney said she wants people trying to help in these types of situations to be aware of the proper avenues to take so they don't get caught in red tape or a possible criminal charge.

The owner of the 15 horses did voluntarily transfer ownership rights to the Humane Society, Held said.

While the Humane Society will likely recommend charges, Held does not yet know whether any legal action will be taken against the owner.

Judges and prosecutors often see a voluntary transfer of the animals as a good-faith gesture that the individual realizes they cannot care for them and is giving up their rights, Held said.

The condition the animals were left in was severe enough to warrant charges, Held said. In eight years as a cruelty investigator, he said, this was the worst case he's seen.

"They're basically skeletons with skin stretched over them," he said.

Aside from being extremely malnourished, most of the horses suffered from rainrot, a skin infection from being kept in nearly three feet of urine and fecal matter, Held said.

"We can correct starving and skin problems -- they're painful but fixable," he said.

Most of the horses also were foundered, or suffering from a hoof ailment causing the inside of the foot to swell, which would present the biggest problem as far as saving their lives was concerned, Held said.

The condition of some of the horses' feet was so severe it had led to calcification of some joints from lack of movement.

Three of the horses have been transported to the Mid-Rivers Equine Centre near St. Louis for continued treatment. Their condition is bad enough that at least two of them may need to be euthanized, Held said. Five were sent to the Long Meadows Rescue Ranch, a division of the Humane Society in Union, Mo., where large animals are rehabilitated and offered for adoption to good homes.

The remaining horses will be cared for by the Humane Society of Southeast Missouri.

Except one.

Varney said she selected a little paint stallion who "captured my heart."

His new name? "Contraband," she said with a laugh.

bdicosmo@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 245

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