A Sterling couple charged with animal cruelty last year had seven horses and one colt removed Tuesday after authorities received a call from a concerned neighbor.
“The looked malnourished,” said John Schweiger, state brand inspector for the Department of Agriculture who viewed the animals Tuesday.
The animals were taken to a holding barn at 20197 Riverside Drive in Sterling, officials said.
The horses belong to BFD Land and Livestock and Cheryl Smith, officials said.
In May 2005, Smith and her husband, Donald Smith, a Sterling attorney had about 60 horses confiscated by state and county agencies after allegations of animal cruelty and neglect.
In June 2005, Cheryl Smith went on trial on a animal cruelty charge, a misdemeanor and was fined $3,000, but $2000 was suspended while animal cruelty charges against her husband were dropped, officials said.
“He skated on that,” said Logan County sheriff’s Lt. Jim Coody.
In the first case against the Smith’s PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) asked prosecutors to take action against the couple.
“I’m horrified,” said PETA cruelty caseworker Stephanie Bell of the latest allegations against the couple.
“I believe this is an animal hording situation,” Bell said. “They are taking on more animals than they have the resources or ability to care for.”
Scot Dutcher of the state’s Bureau of Animal Control checked out the horses Tuesday that were being kept on a farm almost five miles north of Sterling on Colorado 41 .
“They needed attention right now,” Dutcher said.
Staff writer Annette Espinoza can be reached at 303-820-1655 or aespinoza@denverpost.com.
