THURSTON COUNTY -- Sheriff's and animal welfare officials seized 92
neglected animals from a rural farm southeast of Yelm, officials said Friday.
Among the animals were 88 miniature horses and mules, two goats, a cow and a llama.
They were being kept on about 29 acres at 22303 Piessner Road S.E. near Clear Lake, said
Lt. Brad Watkins of the Thurston County Sheriff's Office.
"Obviously the herd of miniature horses and donkeys ... had some medical
issues," he said. Some had split hooves, some appeared malnourished and about a dozen
mares appeared pregnant.
Past complaints
Nearby residents have complained for several years about the condition of the farm's
miniature horse herd.
The Thurston County Sheriff's Office began an investigation earlier this month after an
area resident called about a miniature horse that was having trouble giving birth, Watkins
said.
Deputies, county Animal Services staff and members of Hooved Animal Rescue of Thurston
County responded.
When they were unable to help the mare, they called veterinarian John Dugan of Dugan
Equine Hospital in Roy.
Dugan was unable to save the foal. But the mare, which also needed medical attention,
was impounded. During the incident, officials noticed medical problems in other animals
and launched an investigation, Watkins said.
Armed with a search warrant, deputies, Animal Services staff, members of Hooved Animal
Rescue and other volunteers showed up Thursday morning at the pasture on Piessner Road.
The animals that appeared to be most in need of attention were taken first to Dugan's
clinic.
Animals removed
By the end of the day, all the animals had been seized and removed. All were examined
at Dugan Equine Hospital.
Many were underweight, and some were in bad shape, Marlisa Dugan said.
About 30 mares appear to be the breeding stock, seven had nursing foals and others were
pregnant. One gave birth Friday morning, and several more are expected to give birth in
the coming days, she said.
"But they're all really thin," Dugan said.
No charges had been filed yet against the farm's owner, and no arrests had been made,
Watkins said. If charges are filed, they would be related to second-degree animal cruelty
-- up to 92 counts.
Deputies found evidence of neglect, but no evidence of abuse, Watkins said.
Hooved Animal Rescue will be caring for the animals and all have foster homes.
N.S. Nokkentved covers the outdoors for The Olympian. He can be reached at 360-754-5445
and at nnokkent@ olympia.gannett.com.
