Horses Continue To Starve On Farm
Owner Faces 20 Counts Of Animal Cruelty
POSTED: 9:09 am CDT April 23,
2008
UPDATED: 10:10 am CDT April 23,
2008
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. -- Time is running out for several starving horses on a Putnam County farm.
Video: Horses Continue To Starve In Area CountyLast week deputies gave their owner a deadline to sell them, but that deadline has passed and little has been done.The animals’ grazing pasture has become so barren they can barely get any food.Channel 4 first told the public about the hungry horses and donkeys last week.Twenty of the animals are roaming a Putnam County pasture.Deputies charged their owner, John Huddleston, with 20 counts of animal cruelty and gave him a week to sell the equine.Animal control deputy Chris Brown said several people have made offers."They told me he was asking $100 for some and $300 for others," said Brown.But a week later, 18 of the animals are still grabbing at the ground for the tiniest blade of grass.Agriculture experts said these days at livestock sales, it's hard to get a $150 for a healthy horse, much less $300 for an unhealthy one.Brown has been coming to the area every day to make sure the animals are at lease getting something to eat."They need veterinary care, they need constant supervision," said Brown.At the Huddleston's farm, Brown estimates that a dozen chickens and ducks live in cramped quarters.Also, in the far corner of the farm, there are more horses and a donkey."We don't have any place to take them and as log as I'm monitoring them on a daily basis, that's basically all I can do," said Brown.He said if it were just a couple of animals he might have found a place for them.However, there are dozens of animals in need of a new home.Huddleston is due in court May 5.
Video: Horses Continue To Starve In Area CountyLast week deputies gave their owner a deadline to sell them, but that deadline has passed and little has been done.The animals’ grazing pasture has become so barren they can barely get any food.Channel 4 first told the public about the hungry horses and donkeys last week.Twenty of the animals are roaming a Putnam County pasture.Deputies charged their owner, John Huddleston, with 20 counts of animal cruelty and gave him a week to sell the equine.Animal control deputy Chris Brown said several people have made offers."They told me he was asking $100 for some and $300 for others," said Brown.But a week later, 18 of the animals are still grabbing at the ground for the tiniest blade of grass.Agriculture experts said these days at livestock sales, it's hard to get a $150 for a healthy horse, much less $300 for an unhealthy one.Brown has been coming to the area every day to make sure the animals are at lease getting something to eat."They need veterinary care, they need constant supervision," said Brown.At the Huddleston's farm, Brown estimates that a dozen chickens and ducks live in cramped quarters.Also, in the far corner of the farm, there are more horses and a donkey."We don't have any place to take them and as log as I'm monitoring them on a daily basis, that's basically all I can do," said Brown.He said if it were just a couple of animals he might have found a place for them.However, there are dozens of animals in need of a new home.Huddleston is due in court May 5.
Previous Stories:
- April 17, 2008: Deputies Find Horses In Poor Condition
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