Thursday, February 28, 2008 - Page updated at 08:35 AM
E-mail article
Print view Share:
Digg
Newsvine
WA woman charged with cruelty in horse abuse case
A Carnation woman who runs a horse-breeding and boarding business was charged Wednesday with three counts of felony first-degree animal cruelty after animal control officers said they found four dead horses, an emaciated foal on the brink of death and nine other horses without food or drinkable water on her property.
Jean Marie Elledge, 56, faces a maximum year in jail if convicted. Arraignment was set for March 5.
King County animal control officers went to Elledge's property after they were contacted a week ago by officials in Snohomish County, who are investigating the alleged abuses of horses on property she owns in Monroe.
Animal control officers who visited the Carnation property with a veterinarian found the youngest horse dehydrated and near death, according to the charging documents. A search of the property then revealed nine other emaciated horses, four dead horses located around the property, and a lack of grass and drinkable water, according to charging documents.
Five horses belonging to others seemed in good condition and were left, the documents said.
Local horse advocates say that mistreatment of horses in the rural areas of King, Pierce and Snohomish counties has been on the rise in recent months, spurred in part by rising hay costs.
Elledge told a sheriff's deputy that she had been having financial problems, according to charging papers.
Over the past two months in King County alone, animal control officers have removed horses from at least three properties, including Elledge's Carnation ranch, a Renton property where one horse died and 15 were seized three weeks ago and a Covington property where starving livestock were found, said Al Dams, acting director of King County Animal Care and Control.
___
Information from: The Seattle Times, http://www.seattletimes.com
Copyright © 2008 The Seattle Times Company
More spikes found in Green Lake
Election 2008: Michelle Obama brings change message to Seattle fundraiser
UW wants to double enrollment at Tacoma, Bothell branches
Nicole Brodeur: $89k potty stirs flush of shame
Cops return medical-marijuana files taken in raid — but not the pot

Save money this summer
Get a free neighborhood deals card and take advantage of discounts at 100+ Seattle retailers now through Sept. 1. View all deals at NWsource.
- Sharpened spikes at Green Lake
- Starbucks makes it official: Washington losing 19 stores
- More spikes found in Green Lake
- Boeing says changes to tanker rules won't fly | Farnborough Air Show
- Heath Ledger's Joker is wild in masterful "Dark Knight"
- Starbucks identifies 600 U.S. stores it's closing
- Pot raid angers medical-marijuana supporter
- Jewelry safe was disguised a little too well
- Isaiah Thomas ready to play basketball for Huskies
- Tyrone Willingham's job status could be giving UW recruits reason to stall
- Sharpened spikes at Green Lake
- Snow still covers hiking trails in Cascades, Olympics
- Kitsap County's Point No Point Lighthouse a step back into maritime history
- The next big Think: Electric car from Norway could be coming to U.S
- Allen Institute will give preview of spinal-cord atlas
- Tiny Bistro Turkuaz brings elegance to Turkish home cooking | Restaurant Review
- Small army at UW raised $900K a day
- Study: Low-carb diet more effective overall
- Collecting fond memories of Seattle's Yesler Terrace
- Mariners batboy's duties go beyond organizing bats
