Fayette County woman charged with 14 counts of animal cruelty, 5 horses seized

KINCAID, W.Va. — Several horses were seized in Fayette County on Wednesday following animal neglect and maltreatment allegations.

The owner, Tami Jo Bennet, 57, of Kincaid, was arrested and charged with with 14 misdemeanor counts of animal cruelty.

A complaint was received in the Kincaid-Page area that several horses that were housed in two separate fields without an adequate food supply, and suffering from malnutrition.

Responding officers reported that the ribs of the horses were showing and they were apparently eating each other’s tails. They also appeared to be suffering from rain rot on their hides.

Deputies obtained search warrants to seize all of the horses housed in the two fenced-in enclosures.

“A livestock seizure of this scale is beyond the capability of the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office to handle without assistance,” said Fayette Sheriff Steve Kessler. “The local Humane Society lacks not only the training and equipment necessary to facilitate such a seizure, but the capability to house this many animals once the seizure has been completed.”

Kessler said the U.S. Humane Society was contacted to assist with the seizure.

The horses were examined at the scene by a veterinarian and transported to an undisclosed location to undergo a veterinary examination and receive necessary food and care to restore them to health.

Bennett was taken to Fayette County Magistrate Court and released on $5,000 bond.





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