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February 22, 2012

Judge: Women won't get horses back

Neighbor: 'I'm happy to know the horses won't be going back'

BY ART BUKOWSKI abukowski@record-eagle.com

TRAVERSE CITY — Cora Wilson repeatedly contacted law enforcement with concerns about mistreated animals on neighbor Danelle Round's property.

Wilson's call in January led to a criminal charge after police found several malnourished horses on the Fife Lake-area farm.

Now, Wilson is relieved five horses won't return to Round and her daughter, Nikita Booth. District Judge Michael Haley on Tuesday ordered the women to forfeit the animals, though shortly before his order both women said they would voluntarily give up the horses.

"I'm ecstatic," Wilson said. "I'm happy to know the horses won't be going back."

Round recently pleaded guilty to one count of abandoning or being cruel to two or three animals, a one-year misdemeanor. Her sentencing is scheduled for March 2.

Two malnourished horses were euthanized after police and a veterinarian inspected Round's property on East M-115. Three other horses went to Kingsley's Horse North Rescue, and a Kalkaska animal control officer took two.

The Kalkaska pair will join the three at Horse North, Assistant Grand Traverse County Prosecutor Jennifer Tang-Anderson said. Horse North will attempt to find permanent homes for all five.

Haley heard testimony Tuesday from Wilson; Grand Traverse Sheriff's Deputy Paul Postal, who inspected the property; and a veterinarian called to the scene. It's clear Booth and Round neglected the animals, Haley said.

"There's plenty of testimony on the record right now that would show the two of you ... allowed them to become emaciated, underfed and underwatered," Haley told the women. "Clearly, from Deputy Postal's testimony alone, the pathetic state of these animals was shown."

The two euthanized horses remained unburied on Round's property for more than a month, prompting further complaints. Both recently were buried, police said.

The horses at Horse North are recovering, and each has put on about 150 pounds, said the group's Nancy Hubbard.

"They're doing really well," she said. "They're getting healthy."

Horse advocates concerned for the animals' welfare packed the courtroom.

"They don't have a voice in all of this — we're their voice," Hubbard said.

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