A family in North Idaho that is notorious for letting their dogs die on chains and leaving their horses in small pens, knee-deep in their own feces and reduced to skin and bones from hunger, has had numerous horses die in the last month from starvation and neglect. The animals had no shelter from the cold and died in the mud and snow, cold and in pain.
The Nezperce County Tribal Police were aware of the horrendous conditions and worked at a snails pace to do anything about it, constantly passing the case from one officer to the next, doing nothing productive to help the horses. Two adult horses died while under their jurisdiction, even though a highly recognized and respected animal rescue group was standing by and ready to take the horses to live a safe and happy life in a sanctuary. The police were completely ineffective and did nothing as the horses were moved by the owners in an attempt to hide them on a friends property in a different county.
It was in Clearwater County that the youngest horse, an eight month old colt, died of malnutrition and neglect. Even though the local Sheriffs Department had received numerous calls from community members about the conditions of the animals, nothing was done.
On the day that the baby horse was found dead, a concerned citizen called the Clearwater County Sheriffs Department where the dispatcher was rude, refused to give her name, wouldn't pass the call off to her supervisor, and then hung up on the caller.
Why is nothing being done to help these animals? Why aren't the authorities enforcing the laws? Why are tax-paying citizens having their calls purposely disconnected when they call with their concerns?
It's time to fight back for these animals! Tell these police departments that cruelty to animals is a crime and you want the laws enforced!
Dear Clearwater County Commissioners, Mr. Chris Goetz, and Police Cheif Leslie Hendrick,
It's time to start taking animal abuse and neglect seriously. Please stop ignoring the complaints of citizens and start enforcing the laws. Horses in North Idaho have died due to starvation and neglect under the jurisdiction of the Nezperce Tribal Police and the Clearwater County Sheriff's Department. Though numerous calls over several years have been made by concerned community members, swift action was never taken and these animals are now dead. How many horses have to die before anything will be done to help?
A concerned citizen that phoned in to the Clearwater County Sheriff's Department on 3/2/2013 was hung up on and treated poorly by the dispatcher and a sheriffs deputy. Is this how you treat your tax-payers that call for help?
Please stop protecting criminals and start enforcing the laws. Animal abuse is a crime, please start treating is as such.
