GLADSTONE, N.D. - About 70 horses and 20 cattle located south of Gladstone were seized by the Stark County Sheriff's Office Monday, May 22, and given to Triple H Miniature Horse Rescue for adoption and placement, the sheriff's office said in a news release.
The state district court order was issued under state law dealing with animals that are neglected, abused or treated cruelly, the release stated.
Criminal charges have not yet been filed against the owner.
Maj. Fern Moser of the Stark County Sheriff's Office said once Triple H takes control of the horses, the organization located near Mandan can decide what to do with them
"It's whatever they decide to do with them," Moser said. "If they can sell them or they can give them away or whatever they do with them, that's totally up to them."
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Moser said several entities were considered for disposition of the animals. "Sheriff Oestrich then called Triple H and asked them if they would take possession of the horses and they agreed to," Moser said.
Alison Smith, founder of Triple H, was worried that the horses could have been taken to a feedlot for slaughter if they were sold. She said the county came to Triple H about the horses last week, but then called the next day and said the horses would instead be sold.
"Anyone who is probably going to buy 70 horses is probably not buying them to use in trail riding," she said. "... When you seize horses in North Dakota, you have a few options. You can sell them, you can destroy them if they are too sick or whatever, you can adopt them out. I'm not sure they knew they had all those options."
She said she would like every horse to at least have the option of going to a rescue first, no matter the situation.
"My concern is the horses and that they at least be given a chance," Smith said. "I think everybody deserves a chance. Being a horse rescue, my area is the horses and I leave all the other stuff up to all the attorneys. ... We're just not here to judge on that and we don't know."
The organization has lined up several haulers to come to Gladstone on Thursday, May 25, to help transport the horses to Mandan. The Stockman's Association, area veterinarians and the sheriff's office will also be present.
Smith said regardless of how the horses ended up in the original condition they were in, it's not for her or her organization to judge.
"It's my understanding that they look really good," she said. "I think this started out as an unintentional starvation case, is probably what I would call it, most likely, but I don't know the specifics. ... I think now with time, they're looking really good. It's not going to be these shriveled up husks that come in and tug on your heartstrings. I think these horses have made really good progress and why they're still seizing them, those are their reasons."
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After the horses arrive and are evaluated, they will soon be available for adoption. If people would like to help the organizations, they can make cash donations or hay donations by going to their website at www.hhhmhr.org .
"The faster we can move them out, in my opinion, in this case, the better," she said. "They do look fairly good and so I would like to find them homes ASAP."
