Colton woman arrested, horses seized in neglect case
2 Comments Published by Pioneer Staff on Friday, June 8, 2007 at 6:18 PM.
By Abby SewellMolalla Pioneer
A Colton woman was arrested for animal abuse and three malnourished horses seized by the Clackamas County Sheriff's Office this afternoon from a 103-acre property on Benzinger Road. A fourth horse was found dead on the property.
There was no water, phone or power at the home where April Punley, 47, lived with her four-year-old autistic son when deputies arrived. Deputies arrested Punley on one count of second degree animal abuse and took her son into protective custody.
A tip led CCSO Livestock Deputy Morgan Guthner to investigate the property in March, at which point the four horses were alive but thin and in need of medical treatment. According to the CCSO report, Guthner had a veterinarian inspect the horses at the time and give Punley instructions for treatment; but in a followup visit, the horses were still found to be sick and malnourished.
Punley had previously been investigated in four animal neglect cases, but none of them ended in an arrest. She was cited and released from the Clackamas County Jail today.
CCSO Detective Jeff Green did not have information on the medical condition of three horses that were seized but did say that they were apparently not receiving water. They were tethered to trees with access to only ferns and weeds to eat.
The cause of death for the fourth horse was unknown as of press time.
"The cause may never be determined," Green said. "The horse had been dead for a substantial period of time."
How sad. I hope that her son is doing well.
I just don't understand how this happens, why have animals and not take care of them?
Obviously this family needs help. No water, power or phone! Instead of persecuting her, taking her child and horses. How about a little assistance.
I am an active horse advocate but in this case I would have looked more into what was going on and even put up some funds for her, her child and her horses to be cared for. Give her a chance to get on her feet. This doesn't seem like an abuse case but a pocket book case.
I've been in poor situations and right or wrong it is easier to lock the gate. Look at the price she's paying now.