Woman Charged With Cruelty To Animals

BY NATASHA ASHE
SALISBURY POST

This morning, a day after Animal Control officers confiscated a herd of emaciated horses, they charged a Salisbury woman with nine counts of cruelty to animals and one count of assault on an officer.

Officers said Carolyn Nance, of U.S. 601, Salisbury, refused to talk to them and tried to run over them with her truck as they were trying to help the horses Monday.

Nance will have to answer to a judge on charges of malnourishing and neglecting 20 registered quarterhorses she owns.

Friday afternoon, Animal Control officers with the county and city of Salisbury went out to investigate the situation after receiving a call from property owners on Old Mocksville Road. Nance leases the land where she keeps her horses.

The callers told officials they couldn't stand to bury another dead horse. Apparently, the owners have buried horses for Nance in the past, most recently two weeks ago.

Monday morning, officials seized nine horses after working diligently over the weekend to gather the equipment to move the horses.

''These horses are walking skeletons, basically just some hide stretched over skeletons,'' explained Ann Frye, Salisbury Animal Control officer, this morning. She and County Animal Control Officer Robin Cook were caring for the bedraggled animals at an undisclosed location.

''Unfortunately, we could only take the worst of the worse,'' Frye said. ''We could have lost some of those with the weather changing the way that it has. Rowan County Animal Control will get the rest, if something isn't done about those.''

The emaciated horses walked over hay-covered grounds at their temporary home, exposed rib cages leading to clearly outlined spines.

Veterinarian Andy Gardner, of Large Animal Medicine and Surgery on Sherrills Ford Road, was called to euthanize one frail horse that could barely stand. But once he arrived, Gardner and the officers were able to get the horse up ''which means it did not have to be put to sleep,''

The horse also ate some, and officers carefully loaded it with the others, giving it a chance to survive.

''There were four or five that were really bad,'' Gardner said. ''It's still too early to tell if those will survive. We hope all of them will.''

Animal Control Officer Cook, who led the investigation, described the case as one of the worst she's seen.

''It's just so sad,'' Cook said. ''I could hardly keep from crying. It also makes you angry.''

The officers said people from the community and surrounding counties have responded to the situation, donating more than 250 pounds of feed and 75 bales of hay. Hundreds of calls from concerned citizens wanting to help have flooded Animal Shelter phone lines. Officials said Ted Gelvin, former Humane Society volunteer, was instrumental in assisting the officers with rescuing the horses.

Officials plan to nurse the horses back to health by feeding them only a half a gallon of feed twice a day for two to three weeks and providing fresh water. The amount will gradually increase to a gallon twice a day, plus hay.

Finding suitable homes for the horses could become an option. The courts will likely make the ultimate decision.

''This obviously didn't happen overnight,'' Gardner said. ''It took some time to happen, probably over a period of several weeks.''

Cook said those interested in donating feed or volunteering time should call the shelter at 633-0482.

Those who wish to send money can drop by the shelter or send checks to: Rowan County Animal Control, Attention: Clai Martin; 2728, Old Concord Road, Salisbury, N.C. 28146. Mark envelopes, personal and confidential.