Rogersville residents concerned about health of "neglected" horses

July 24, 2012|By Melody Pettit | mpettit@kspr.com

(ROGERSVILLE, Mo) — According to neighbors, about ten horses near Rogersville are being neglected and have been for years.

“It’s just down to dirt that they're eating,” said neighbor Melodi Bare.

We asked an expert her opinion; horse rescue operator Tammy Cook.

“This is not good at all,” Cook said.

The horses are on private property. While staying off the property, Cook inspected what she could over a fence.

“Apparently this has been going on for a long time and nobody has done anything. It’s time somebody does something now this has gone on long enough,” she said.

The house on the property is abandoned. Trash and beer bottles are strewn in the grazing areas. Neighbors say they are without water for days at a time.

While we were there several neighbors stopped to tell us they've been trying to draw attention to the problem for more than five years now.

“When we called the Sheriff's department they said the Planning and Zoning people are in charge. The Planning and Zoning guys said the Sheriff’s department is in charge of it. Someone even said to go to the Highway Patrol, but they don't do anything with it. Somebody needs to figure out who deals with this and get if figured out,” said neighbor Tracy West.

The Greene County Sheriff confirms they've been called to that location "numerous" times. In fact a Missouri State Vet and a Humane Society Investigator were at that location just hours before us.

In an email, Greene County Sheriff Jim Arnott said, “…both stated that they are being taken care of, no violations of the law have occurred."

Neighbors say it's just a matter of time before the horses start dying and want something done before it is too late.

“It weighs heavy on my heart about what’s going to happen to those horses,” Cook said.

Tammy Cook is the Owner and Operator for CTM Serenity Horse Rescue out of Bruner, Missouri.

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