Here is an update I received today from Cindy Stamer, sister to one of the two vets who were called in to help treat the Craig County blackbellies that were found starving. If you can help, this would be a good thing to do. There are contact numbers at the end of the article, and you can call the Kelley family (the folks who are caring for the sheep) at 918-244-5888, or write them at 26644 South 4360 Road, Vinita, OK 74301. There also is a good article at http://www.tulsaworld.com/NewsStory.asp?ID=070225_Ne_A1_Anima30146
______________________________________________ The following is a rough update based on notes from discussions I had recently with folks in Vinita. I understand the Oklahoma Supreme Court is scheduled to hear the appeal later this month. By then, I am told the county expects that it will have been required to expend more than $100,000 to care for and maintain the neglected animals, as the court ordered the county would keep the animals in its custody, but refused to enforce the provision of the new Oklahoma animal cruelty law that would have required Mr. Bell to post bond to cover the costs of maintaining the animals pending the appeal as a condition of his appeal. See the following: Craig County, Oklahoma officials need donations to pay costs of caring for 1250 Barbado sheep, 300 cows and 12 horses seized by the Craig County Sheriff's Department in connection with the largest criminal animal abuse investigation in U.S. history. Craig County Sheriff Jimmy Sooter says there is no money in the county's budget to pay the more than $50,000 of expenses the county has incurred for care of the animals since his department seized the animals last month, or additional costs that will be required to maintain them while the Oklahoma courts decide the animals' fate. "Our biggest problem right now is money. There is no money budgeted for a situation like this. We are in need of donations for food and grain and hay to feed these animals," says Sooter. Craig County officials seized the animals between January 17 and January 23 after sheriff deputies found the animals among 800 other dead or dying sheep on four separate properties of owner David Bradley Bell. Bell and his wife Tanya, presently are facing multiple animal neglect and cruelty charges, according to Craig County Assistant District Attorney Jim Ely. Deputies discovered hundreds of dead, dying and starving animals while investigating reports of neglected animals on Bell properties. Craig County Sheriff Deputy Robin Livingston says graphic pictures posted on the websites of the U.S. Humane Society at http://multimedia.hsus.org/images/oklahoma-cruelty.html and at www.tulsaworld.com/deadsheep provide only a limited glimpse into the horrible conditions sheriff department deputies found. Livingston said they could see clearly see hundreds of dead and dying animals as they drove onto the property. Deputies discovered stacks of dead and dying sheep strewn across the pastures, on a porch, stacked on top of each other in feed troughs and in a barn. "It looked like a battlefield. There were dead animals everywhere," she said. Human society officials and local veterinarians called in to help investigate the case and care for the animals say that although cold may have hastened the death of many of these animals, but that the advanced decomposition of many of the carcasses establishes that neglect and abuse as the primary cause. According to Livingston, it was immediately apparent to sheriff deputies that the animals that weren't already dead needed help. "As we got out of the vehicles, sheep surrounded us and began nibbling on our fingertips. These animals don't usually seek out people. Sheep also huddled around the exhaust pipe of my unit to drink the condensation. They needed any water they could get," she explained. The deputies' inspection of the property revealed even more gruesome sights. "We observed dogs eating baby lambs being birthed from dying mothers too weak to stand as they were being born," said Livingston. "Dead animals were laying down and the other animals just kept laying on top of them. We removed the animals because they were so many dead bodies, the others just kept dying." County officials quickly reacted to rescue and get care for the remaining animals. The massive number of animals and their compromised condition presents significant challenges, according to Dr. John Marcotte, a prominent Vinita-based veterinarian specializing in the treatment of horses and other livestock. Marcotte and his associate veterinarian, Justin Roscoe, have treated the ailing animals since Craig County officials asked them to help assess and treat them on January 13th. "Most of these animals are not ready to just be turned out into the field to tend to themselves," Marcotte said. "Most of the animals remain sick and underweight, but are recovering with the care they receive in the county's custody." According to Roscoe, an additional 108 animals died after the Sheriff Department stepped in. "We just couldn't save all of them," he said. The survivors include fifty-eight ewe lambs that must be hand fed by bottle because their mothers are dead or too week to care for their young. Many of the mature animals require hand watering, hand feeding and other regular one-on-one care daily. Lack of water and food left most of the animals so weakened that many were unable to walk at the time of their rescue. All of the animals were found severely emaciated and dehydrated. Most also suffer from pneumonia or other diseases. Several have broken legs. "While these animals are recovering, they aren't out of the woods yet. They'll continue to require careful tending and supervision to complete their recovery," Marcotte said. "It takes a lot of people, time and money to get the food, water and other care essential to continue and maintain their recovery. If they don't get proper care, they can still die." The large number of the animals and their fragile condition creates big financial and logistical challenge for the county and others helping care for the animals. Even with the help of many community volunteers, the county doesn't know where it will find the funds to pay the $2000-$2500 per day feed bill, more than $13,000 veterinary bill, wages for the 10-12 ranch hands hired to handle the animals, and other expenses of caring for the animals. The costs would be even higher, if not for the outpouring of help volunteered by members of the community, Sooter and Livingston said. Since the Sheriff took the animals into custody, a local business man and rancher, Lonnie Kelley has allowed the county to keep the animals on a section of his land without rent. Kelley and his five children, along with other volunteers from the community also pitch in daily to help feed and water the animals. Volunteers from the Human Society also have helped. The county also has received a $5000 from the Oklahoma Human Society officials and various other smaller donations from others trying to help the county cover the costs. Unfortunately, Sheriff Sooter reports that the amounts donated will only cover a very small fraction of the costs. "Our community has pitched in to help where they can," said Livingston. "Neighbors and businesses are trying to help but are strapped themselves. We need some help." Already facing a tight budget with no monies available to meet these unanticipated expenses, Craig County officials had hoped a judge would enter an order terminating Bell's ownership of the animals at a February 7th hearing. Craig County Assistant District Prosecutor Jim Ely said county prosecutors had filed an action asking the Craig County court to order Bell either to forfeit ownership of the animals or post a bond to cover their care pending further court proceedings under a new Oklahoma animal cruelty law that took effect November 1, 2006. Had the court granted this request, Ely says the county could have begun selling the animals to cover costs. During Wednesday's hearing, Bell refused to either forfeit the animals or post a bond to pay for their continuing care pending further court proceedings. Acting through his attorney, Jaq Hartley, Bell instead asked the court to order county officials to return the animals to him, arguing the county seizure was not legal under the new law. Following Wednesday's hearing, Craig County officials found themselves saddled with the continuing mission of caring for nearly 2000 animals with no money to fund the cause. Craig County Judge ruled that the animals will remain in the custody of the Craig County Sheriff Department until the Oklahoma Supreme Court rules on the proper interpretation of the new law, but refused to order Bell to post a bond or otherwise make arrangements to pay for the animal's care. As a result, the county must continue to care for the animals with no source of funding until the courts resolve the matter. The Oklahoma Supreme is schedule to hear arguments on the case March 13th. District Attorney Ely says that if the Oklahoma Supreme Court upholds his office's interpretation of the new law as requiring Bell to either forfeit ownership or post a bond to cover the costs for their care, his office will be "ready to go." By then, however, the county expects that its animal care expenses will exceed $120, 000. Meanwhile, Ely says the investigation continues and the District Attorney's office is continuing to pursue its criminal prosecution. The county also is moving forward to make arrangements for the proper disposal of the more than 800 dead animals, most of which remain on the Bell properties. "It's a tragedy," said Marcotte. "Animals aren't like a truck that you can just stick in a box and park in a closet for months until the wheels of justice finish turning. They have to be fed and cared for and someone has to do the work and pay the money to get that done. The new law is supposed to empower law enforcement to act quickly to secure the resources to provide for the care of animals in need. It's a tragedy that that the law has to be tested for the first time when the need and expense is so great." Contacts: John Marcotte, D.V.M. President Marcotte Veterinary Service 30588 S 4400 Rd Vinita, OK Mobile 918-244-5646 Office (918) 256-2479 Pager 877 641 3730 Graduate, University of Missouri Veterinary School Justin Roscoe, D.V.M Associate Veterinarian Marcotte Veterinary Service 30588 S 4400 Rd Vinita, OK Mobile 918 2445645 Pager 877 641 3735 Graduate, University of Oklahoma Veterinary School Jim Ely Craig County Deputy District Attorney Office 918-256-3320 Mobile 918-261-5018 Jimmie Sooter Craig County Sheriff 918.256.6466 Cynthia Anderson Human Society [EMAIL PROTECTED] _______________________________________________ This message is from the blackbelly mailing list Visit the list's homepage at %http://www.blackbellysheep.info
