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Last updated on Friday, March 2, 2012
(WASHINGTON) - A Washington County man is facing a charge of animal abandonment and neglect following the death of a horse in his care.
Police arrested 31-year-old Zachary L. Bane, after his horse died.
According to Washington county Prosecutor Dustin Houchin the mare died before it could be rescued.
When County Animal Control Officer Randy Lee saw the dire condition of the animal, he immediately contacted authorities.
Houchin issued a seizure order prior o filing criminal charges. The animal was dying when Lee arrived to serve the papers. The horse died not 10 minutes after he arrived.
According to the probable cause affidavit, Lee received a call from Bane's neighbor on Tuesday, Feb. 14. The neighbor reported that two horses at Bane's home were not being given food and water. Lee investigated that day, then called Dr. Jodi Lovejoy, a veterinarian with the Indiana State Board of Animal Health. Both visited the property on Thursday, Feb. 16, and discovered that one of the horses had been removed. The remaining horse, a sorrel mare, was lying in the field unable to stand.
Lovejoy ordered Bane to provide immediate veterinary care for the animal, but according to the affidavit, Bane did not follow through. When Lee investigated the following day, the animal was lying in the field.
Lee obtained an order to seize the animal and returned the next day, but he was too late. According to Lovejoy's report the horse died as a direct result of Bane's long-term lack of adequate care and inappropriate management as well as lack of adequate care when the horse was down and needed immediate medical care.
Lee says the second animal was removed by its owner and is being monitored to be sure it receives adequate care.
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