Desi and Pumpkin

Three Strikes You're Out

Before
In March of 2003 HAHS received a new complaint on an old case.  We had been receiving complaints about the situation since May of 2002, but each time our investigator wrote the owner a Notice of Violation to comply with state law, the owner obeyed the notice and HAHS was forced to close the case.  This time, however, the owner did not obey our investigator's notice and the Illinois State Department of Agriculture authorized an impoundment of the two remaining horses, a paint mare and her palomino colt (a third horse that had been present on earlier visits was gone).
 The day of the impoundment, HAHS was accompanied by Animal Control, the County Sheriff, the Department of Conservation and a local veterinarian.  What was found outside behind the house shocked the team:  a dead dog, seven dead cats, one dead rabbit and the missing horse, dead on a burn pile.
 

After 
Within several weeks, proper diet and care were turning the horses around and improvement was evident. Desi, the mom, and Pumpkin, her son, were soon adopted by families who are enjoying them and giving them the love and care they deserve. Their previous owner pled guilty to three felony counts of animal cruelty, waiving his right to a trial. His sentence consisted of 30 months of probation during which he cannot violate criminal law, leave Illinois, have animals on his property, or possess a gun; a mandatory psychiatric evaluation; 250 hours of community service; electronic home monitoring at his expense; and $750 in additional fines and costs.