Woman Arrested for Animal Cruelty
On 06-21-15 Deputy Chad Morrison (Livestock Officer) responded to 11372 Salina Street in Brooksville at the request of Animal Enforcement Officer Mandy Rowe. Rowe was already on scene investigating a possible case of animal cruelty.
Rowe advised Morrison that she had received an anonymous complaint regarding a horse on this property that had blood oozing from its rectum. Rowe had conducted her investigation prior to Morrison’s arrival and had already directed the owner of the horse, Christy Finley, to call a veterinarian and have him or her respond immediately to assess the horse, identified as Cherokee.
Chandelle Veterinary Services in Brooksville was called by the owner of the horse, and Dr. Gina Zambrano, DVM, was dispatched to the scene.
Photo of Cherokee
When Deputy Morrison arrived at the location where the horse was being kept, he observed an overgrown pasture. There, he observed a bay and white paint mare tied to a lead rope. The mare’s ribs were showing and all four hooves were overgrown by at least one inch. One hoof was split and appeared to be untreated.
Deputy Morrison observed that both blood and urine were staining the hair of the mare’s hind legs. There was a small infected area, approximately two inches wide to the left of her tail head and a larger area, approximately five inches in diameter and over one inch deep, to the right of her tail head. The larger infected area was impacted with fecal matter and was bleeding. The area was covered with both flies and maggots.
When Dr. Zambrano arrived, she removed the impacted fecal matter, exposing the depth of the infected area. Deputy Morrison was able to view Cherokee’s intestinal tract from the ulcerated area. This portion of Cherokee’s body was filled with fecal matter and maggots. The mare’s sphincter muscle was no longer intact, causing her to be unable to defecate normally.
There were several other infected bumps which appeared to be Sarcoid tumors on Cherokee’s anal and vaginal areas. The tumors on her vaginal area also caused her to be unable to urinate properly.
Dr. Zambrano advised these medical issues had been present for at least six weeks and, if Finley had contacted a veterinarian in the early stages, Cherokee would have recovered.
Dr. Zambrano concluded the examination and advised that Cherokee’s condition was grave. Cherokee’s body condition was scored at three out of nine. Dr. Zambrano advised that Cherokee’s quality of life was poor and recommended euthanasia. Finley agreed. Dr. Zambrano also advised that besides her hoofs not being cared for, Cherokee’s teeth had sharp points and rostral hooks, which would make chewing food both difficult and painful.
Christy Finley advised Deputy Morrison that she purchased Cherokee approximately two and one half years ago and that she had not seen a veterinarian at all during that time. Finley also advised that it had been over one and one half years since a farrier had trimmed Cherokee’s hoofs.
Finley also advised that Cherokee had the Sarcoid tumors when she got her and that they would come and go without treatment.
Finley could not provide a reason why she did not consult a veterinarian when she noticed that the home remedies that she was trying to treat the open wounds, were not working and the wounds were getting rapidly worse.
Finley was issued a Code Violation on scene for Mistreatment of Animals, which holds a $500 fine. This was issued due to Cherokee’s teeth having sharp points and rostral hooks and her hoofs not being cared for and trimmed.
Once Dr. Zambrano’s report was complete, Deputy Morrison obtained a Felony warrant for Finley. On 06-25-15, Christy B. Finley W/F DOB/09-08-1972 was arrested, charged as follows:
– Animal Cruelty
– Bond – $2,000.
