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Inquiry into deaths of 5 horses to take time

Brimfield Twp. police chief says initial belief is animals most likely starved to death

By Bill Lilley
Beacon Journal staff writer

Published on Saturday, Jan 12, 2008

BRIMFIELD TWP.: Police Chief David Blough said Friday he hopes an investigation will be finished in about two weeks into the discovery of five dead horses at a boarding facility on Old Forge Road — a discovery he described as ''totally sickening.''

''Never before in my 13 years with the Brimfield Police Department have I gone to a location and witnessed five dead horses like this,'' Blough said.

''We had to take care of the horses right away. Now, we're doing the investigative part. The cause of death has not been determined but the initial feeling is the five dead horses starved to death.''

Four animals were taken by the Portage Animal Protective League and put in foster care after a local veterinarian determined they were malnourished and in need of immediate care Wednesday afternoon.

Diane Slibaugh is listed as the operator of the Never Rest Ranch at 344 Old Forge Road. Blough said she leases the farm to board and breed horses and give lessons.

Blough said once the investigation is completed, the matter will be turned over to Portage County Prosecutor Vic


tor Vigluicci.

''His office will determine if there has been a criminal act committed, and if we need to file charges,'' Blough said.

Portage Animal Protective League Executive Director Sheila Vandergriff said her office is hoping to get results of blood tests done on the four horses placed in foster care by Monday.

Vandergriff said tests could not be performed on the dead horses because they didn't know exactly how long they had been dead.

''We have a very short window to operate in,'' Vandergriff said. ''The horses have to have died within 24 to 48 hours for us to send their body to Ohio State for testing.

''We thought the two horses out front might have died recently, but getting them out of the muddy pasture would have been difficult. And the three horses out back were covered with earthen-like material and we did not know how long they had been dead.''

Bough said his department was alerted to the situation at 2:30 p.m. Wednesday when an anonymous caller reported seeing two dead horses in the front pasture.

Blough went with officers to the Never Rest Ranch. He said he called the Portage Animal Protective League when he saw the two dead horses. He said one was partially covered by a tarp.

Three more were discovered partially covered by dirt and debris 150 yards behind the main barn.

''The vet came in and cataloged the horses and then did a visual inspection,'' Vandergriff said. ''Many of the horses had blankets on, so you could not see initially how skinny they were.

''The vet identified four other horses as in need of additional evaluation. The owner of those four horses signed the four horses over to the APL. The horses were moved to foster care, where they are currently going through a thorough evaluation by a vet.''

Blough said three of the dead horses had the same owner, but ownership of the other two is undetermined.

Blough said there still are about 20 horses at the farm, most in stalls in the barn.

''I don't know if it was neglect or what right now,'' Blough said. ''But I will tell you without hesitation those were some awfully thin horses that we saw.''

Vandergriff said the APL, which is working with Happy Trails and Rescue Village to save the horses, is accepting donations to offset medical treatment. Donations can be mailed to Portage APL, 8122 Infirmary Road, Ravenna, OH 44266. Checks should be made out to Horse Fund.

Slibaugh was not available for comment and the phone number listed for the Never Rest Ranch has been disconnected.

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Bill Lilley can be reached at 330-996-3811 or blilley@thebeaconjournal.com.

BRIMFIELD TWP.: Police Chief David Blough said Friday he hopes an investigation will be finished in about two weeks into the discovery of five dead horses at a boarding facility on Old Forge Road — a discovery he described as ''totally sickening.''

Get the full article here.


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