Landa Richard, of the 1000 block of Sam Lake Road, Mamou, was recently charged with multiple counts of cruelty to animals after three miniature horses were found dead on her property from apparent neglect and starvation, according to a news release from the Louisiana Humane Society.
Two other miniature horses, all suffering from malnutrition, were seized and are being treated, the news release stated.
A sixth horse, a Shetland pony, evaded capture and remains on the property, although food and water has been left for it and additional plans to capture it are scheduled in the near future.
On Jan. 14, Stacey Alleman, director of St. Landry Animal Control, received a report that several small horses were in distress in the town of Mamou. Since Evangeline Parish lacks animal control officers and a parishwide housing facility, Alleman asked for and received permission from Bill Fontenot, St. Landry Parish president, to respond to the call and offer assistance.
Once on the scene, Alleman observed the carcasses of three miniature horses and three that were obviously suffering from neglect and starvation, the news release stated.
Alleman contacted the Evangeline Parish Sheriff’s Office, which dispatched Deputy Haden Lafleur to the scene. Alleman also contacted the Humane Society of Louisiana to assess them of the situation and seek additional material support for the horses’ care. The Humane Society of Louisiana agreed to pay for all medical care for the surviving horses and any additional expenses.
Jeff Dorson, Human Society director, said, “We are grateful for the work that Ms. Alleman did in this case and hundreds of others like it in her parish. Regrettably, horse owners continue to allow their animals to suffer throughout Lousiaina, by not providing them with basic care and nutrition. We are hoping to educate more and more horse owners on their legal and ethical responsibilities to prevent these types of situations from happening in the future.”
The Humane Society of Louisiana is one of the largest animal advocacy groups in the state and operates the Enoch J. Donaldson Animal Sanctuary in Mt. Hermon. For more information, visit its website at www.humanela.org or call 1-888-6-humane.
