Published: March 14, 2007 05:46 pm         

Horse ‘starves to death,’ Durant man charged

Michael Stewart of Durant was arrested Sunday on a cruelty to animal charge after his horse had to be euthanized due to its poor physical condition.

Stewart’s horse was located within the city limits of Durant on Thames Street, said Durant police officer Sidney Randle.

In Defense of Animals, an animal rights organization located in Grenada, was alerted to the abuse and initiated an investigation last week.

“This horse was in town and only five blocks from the police station,” said Doll Stanley, Director of Investigations with the animal rights group. “We received a complaint from a concerned neighbor, but the police did not want to get involved. The horse basically starved to death. He would have died within 24-48 hours if we didn’t put him down.”

Dr. Walter Roberts, a Durant veterinarian, was called in an attempt to help the neglected animal, but he says the horse was beyond saving.

“We thought we could possibly save him, but he would have never survived the transport to the clinic,” said Roberts. “The horse was too weak to stand, so I had to put him to sleep.”

Officer Randle says the police department handled the situation properly and responded in a timely manner. When asked how the police department failed to notice the animal’s condition, he responded, “When we patrol, we focus on the road.”

“What’s horrifying to me is that the horse slowly suffered in front of three streets that were heavily traveled and were that close to the police department,” said Stanley. “It was clear that Durant is not going the extra mile to help animals in the community.”

According to a Durant city ordinance, it is unlawful for any person to pen, keep or feed a horse on any lot in the city limits more than two days, if the confinement of the animal causes unsanitary conditions, unsightly places or obnoxious odors.

One of the individuals who complained about the neglected animal was upset that the horse was allowed to stay in town, rather than being concerned about the condition of the horse, said Stanley.

Stewart is being held at the Holmes County Jail on the animal cruelty charge as well as an unrelated charge. Cruelty to animals is a misdemeanor in Holmes County and carries a fine of $570.50.

The Attala County Sheriff’s Office also recently investigated a report of horses being neglected at a residence in the north part of the county, but no charges were filed.

In Defense of Animals is an international organization that works to end animal suffering. Its mid-south branch is located in Grenada.