A rescue team from the Oregon Humane Society seized three horses Thursday from a woman in Damascus and discovered the body of a deceased horse on the property. The owner was cited for three counts of animal neglect.
In observing one of the horses, an OHS Humane Special Agent stated that “even through the (horse’s) thick winter coat I could see the outline of his entire ribcage … The observed body condition of all three horses indicated inadequate quantity and quality of food to maintain proper body condition.” The horses had been seen eating wooden fence boards and blackberry vines, signs that no other food was available.
An OHS investigator estimated that two of the horses on the property had body conditions, when ranked on a nine point scale, of one or two. A score of one equals extreme emaciation. The third horse was estimated to have a body score of two or three.
The execution of a search warrant on the property stems from report by a member of the public who was concerned about a possible deceased horse on the property, located in the 12000 block of SE Winston Road in Damascus.
OHS executed a search warrant on the property Thursday morning with the assistance of the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office, animal handlers from Sound Equine Options, and an equine veterinarian. The horses were transported to an undisclosed location where they will receive medical exams and any needed treatment. The horses are evidence in a criminal case and are not available for adoption at this time or viewing by the public.
The owner of the animals, Christine Davis, was cited for three counts of Animal Neglect in the Second Degree and is scheduled to be arraigned in Clackamas County on March 23, 2017.