Horses to be Adopted

On Thursday, March 14, 2002, David D. Kinder, 55, of 1305 Farmington Road, Jackson, Missouri, pled guilty to the class C misdemeanor of animal neglect for failing "to provide adequate care" for three horses in his possession by "failing to provide them with adequate food." After accepting the guilty plea, Associate Circuit Judge Gary A. Kamp followed the recommendation of the Prosecutor's Office and placed Kinder on probation for two years, with special conditions of probation being that he surrender the horses to the Humane Society, that he not own any horses during the time he is on probation, and that he perform 100 hours of community service, preferably with the Humane Society or some other organization geared to helping animals.

At the sentencing, Judge Kamp also ruled that the horses would be at risk of future neglect if returned to Kinder, and ordered that they be disposed of through an adoption process to be handled by the Humane Society of Southeast Missouri.

The horses are two paints and one sorrel. They had been seized on March 7, 2002, by Charlotte Craig, the head of the County Health Department, assisted by Jack Piepenbrok, the County Animal Control Officer, and Patrolman James Barker of the Jackson Police Department. They were seized pursuant to a search warrant issued by Judge Kamp at the request of Prosecuting Attorney Morley Swingle.

"Finding good homes for these horses was an important goal for us in this prosecution," said Prosecuting Attorney Morley Swingle. "We didn't want to rescue these horses just to have them go to the glue factory."

People who want to be considered as candidates to adopt one or more of the horses should contact the Humane Society of Southeast Missouri, Rt. W, Cape Girardeau, MO, 63701, (573) 334-5837.