A retired race horse, “Dr. Drip,” was euthanized after being found malnourished to the point its rib bones were easily observed, according to St. Landry Parish Sheriff Bobby Guidroz.
And the horse’s owner, Jermaine Dwayne Doucet Jr., 18, of Opelousas, has been charged with cruelty to animals.
St. Landry Parish Animal Control notified the sheriff’s office on June 20 about the horse.
An anonymous source told Animal Control that a horse was severely malnourished. Detectives drove to the land and assisted Animal Control in locating the horse.
The horse had several saddle sores along the back area of the horse and a substantial amount of maggots and flies populating were on the saddle sores.
Detectives were able to contact the land owner and gave authorization to enter his property in order for the animal to be seized by St. Landry Parish Animal Control. Local veterinarians affiliated with the Acadiana Equine Hospital, examined the horse and began treatment for the ailments.
On June 21, Animal Control contacted the Acadiana Equine Hospital and informed them the horses condition had worsened. Another examination of the horse was conducted and the determination was made that the horse should be euthanized. The horse was euthanized by the examining doctor.
On June 26, detectives learned the horse had changed hands many times and began their interviews. According to the investigation the horse was purchased by the lease owner of the land from another person who was given the horse by the original owner.
Detectives were informed that the horse was purchased by the caretaker of the land for Doucet and he did agree to the horse to be housed on the land.
On June 26, Doucet Jr. was interviewed at the St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s Office. Doucet did not submit an official statement, but he did indicate that he did in fact own the horse. Doucet was placed under arrest based on information gathered during the course of the investigation.
Guidroz added, “We will conduct criminal investigations on any and all reports of animal abuse we receive from parish animal control that violates state statutes if there is no scene contamination and evidence destruction. The evidence I speak of is the evidence we need to gather among other things, is the evidence the district attorney needs to prosecute the person (s) responsible for the abuse, mistreatment and criminal acts of the animal.”