GORMAN — The investigation into a case of alleged animal abuse in Garrett County went high-tech this week, with experts traveling in from Florida to collect evidence for laboratory testing.
Forensic experts with the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals gathered bones and other evidence from the King Wildesen Road farm to take back to an Orlando lab, explained Garrett County Humane Society volunteer officer Dee Dee Lohr.
“Through a test of the bones we collected, they can find out when the animal died, and what it died of,” she said.
Lohr said they did not excavate areas of the farm, as initially discussed, but instead spent several hours combing the surface of the property.
Charges have not yet been filed against the Oakland man who apparently owned the animals, Richard Friend. Friend did not respond to an interview request from the Times-News.
“We want to make sure we have our evidence all gathered before we file charges,” Lohr said. The Humane Society is also waiting on the results of individual veterinary evaluations of each of the 26 horses seized from the farm. Those evaluations were performed at Days End Farm Horse Rescue in Woodbine, where the animals were taken.
Under the law, officials have one year to file misdemeanor charges in the case.
Though the investigation might seem like an expensive undertaking straight out of an episode of “CSI,” Lohr said that so far, it’s been free.
“This investigation has not cost Garrett County or the state of Maryland one penny for the taxpayers,” Lohr said. “All these expenses are covered.”
The cost of the lab work will be covered by the ASPCA. Days End Farm is seeking grants to help with the cost of sheltering and caring for the Garrett County horses, which have put its equine population at at all-time high of 90.
On May 13, officials seized 26 horses, 18 cattle and six goats from the Garrett County property, saying the animals were neglected and slowly starving to death. It was the largest number of animals ever seized by the county Humane Society in a single incident.
An investigation of the property turned up skulls and other remains of at least 17 animals in various stages of decomposition.
The live horses will be kept at Days End Farm to recover, with the goal of adopting them out when they are healthy. The cattle and goats are being kept on another farm adjacent to the Days End facility.
Contact Megan Miller at mmiller@times-news.com.
Local News
Investigation of reported horse neglect continues
- Local News
-
-
UNDEFEATED STATE CHAMPS!
Mountain Ridge softball head coach Martha Mauzy and players react after the Miners’ 4-3 win over Mardela in the Maryland 1A state championship game at the University of Maryland on Saturday.
-
Officials hoping flight school takes off
Opening a flight school at the Greater Cumberland Regional Airport and further developing the health care corridor along Willowbrook Road are two ways officials think the local economy can grow.
-
Former mayors seek Keyser council seat
Challenger Terry Liller, incumbent Ed Miller Sr., former Mayor Roger Newlin and former Mayor William “Sonny” Rhodes, all candidates for Keyser City Council, all have an opinion on the recall election and citizen complaints and concerns made during recent council meetings.
-
Parents’ dilemma: Let children play football?
Already uneasy about the idea of letting her 7-year-old son Jason start playing tackle football, Elizabeth Giancarli made up her mind when former NFL star Junior Seau committed suicide.
-
Slow going
-
Neighbors battle brush on Woodside Ave.
You could sweat sitting still on Woodside Avenue Saturday afternoon, to say nothing of the perspiration that pulling weeds, gathering trash and painting a guardrail would bring on.
-
DelFest, county fairgrounds continue to evolve
Allegany County Fairgrounds manager Kevin Kamauf talked Saturday of the logistical aspects of putting together DelFest and the ever-expanding fairgrounds that plays host to the annual Memorial Day event.
-
Just waiting for their day to come
The annual Memorial Day Super Cruise spanned along six businesss on Industrial Boulevard Saturday.
-
Summer school options varied
The Allegany County Public School System is offering a variety of summer school options that require registration by Friday.
-
Farmers markets due at two new sites
The Allegany Mountain Fresh Producers Association will have farmers markets at two new locations this year and add four new vendors, according to co-chairman Jack Miltenberger.
- More Local News Headlines
-
