Malnourished horses from Monroe recovering
Published 11:33 pm Tuesday, April 15, 2008
EVERETT — Most of the 10 malnourished horses seized in February from a Monroe property have been getting healthier, but it’s likely to take more time before they can find permanent homes.
Snohomish County already has spent about $17,000 caring for the horses, said Vicki Lubrin, licensing and animal control services manager for the Snohomish County Auditor’s Office.
Three veterinarians have treated and monitored the horses. Two have recovered enough to be placed into horse rescue groups within a month.
“It’s a very slow process; it will take time,” Lubrin said, adding that a couple of the horses are still in serious condition.
County officials on Feb. 22 found the 10 ill horses and five more that were dead in pasture near Monroe leased to Jean M. Elledge of Carnation. Elledge has been charged with five counts of first-degree animal cruelty.
Elledge pleaded not guilty March 25 in Snohomish County Superior Court. Her trial date was set for June 2. She is free without bail, but a judge has required that she board no horses pending trial.
Lubrin declined to disclose the horses’ whereabouts, other than saying they are at different locations in the county.
Some people and groups have offered help to tend the horses, Lubrin said. The county appreciates their offer, but they could interfere with the veterinarians’ work.
“We thought it will be easy for vets to work without that interference,” she said.
Lubrin said two of the horses have given birth after being seized by officials. One foal is now a few weeks old; the other was born dead.
“It happens when a mother is very neglected,” Lubrin said.
In King County, Elledge faces other animal cruelty charges. King County officials found four dead horses and seized 10 starved horses at her boarding and breeding business in Carnation.
Jenny Edwards, the executive director for Hope for Horses, said she had heard about Elledge’s neglecting horses for a few years before officials took action. The nonprofit group southwest of Monroe cares for abandoned, abused and neglected horses.
“It’s a real tragedy,” Edwards said. “It’s a tragedy that’s taken so long to bring justice to.”
Some owners hire others to care for their horses, Lubrin said. They need to make sure that their contractors are providing good care.
“There’s responsibility that comes along with owning animals,” she said.
Reporter Jim Haley contributed to this report.
Reporter Yoshiaki Nohara: 425-339-3029 or ynohara@heraldnet.com.
