Sunday, May 21, 2006

Faces of Rescue 2006: Miracle

KANSAS -- On Saturday, May 20, a local rescue group in Wichita, Kansas contacted Colonel Potter about a Cairn in the Wichita Animal Shelter in desperate need of medical attention. We only had sketchy details and weren't able to get back in touch with the local rescue group. After some investigation and several phone calls, we found him. We’ve named him Miracle, for his story truly is a “miracle.”

Miracle got away from his home on Friday, May 19, and was attacked by two pit bulls. The attack left Miracle with a hole 3 inches in diameter on the front of his left front leg which intersects with a hole 1-inch in diameter on the back of his left front leg. The report we received was that his owners opted not to seek medical attention and surrendered him to the shelter.


Like most animal shelters, the Wichita shelter does not have the financial means and staffing to provide medical care. Miracle sat in the shelter’s holding pen Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and part of Monday with these open, agonizing wounds, with the shelter staff doing the best they could. On Monday morning, May 22, the shelter vet, on a routine visit, saw Miracle. The "on staff" vet simply examines the newcomers every couple of days to determine who is healthy enough to stay for a few days and who should be put down.


The vet said that if a rescue group didn't pull Miracle immediately and get him medical attention Miracle would have to be put down. Miracle had been in the shelter four days with visible large, open, intersecting wounds that were dirty and now maggot infested. No one knew if invisible internal injuries existed, or what lay under his matted coat.

Read about Miracle's recovery at their site.

(Col. Potter Cairn Rescue Network - May 20, 2006)

Saturday, May 20, 2006

Pennsylvania: James Parthemer, 21, charged in hit-and-run that killed woman and her horse

PENNSYLVANIA -- Blossburg police have charged a borough man in his involvement with a hit-and-run, in which a woman and her horse were killed on April 1.

On Friday, police charged James R. Parthemer, 21, of 230 Davis Street, Blossburg, with a third-degree felony count of accidents involving death or personal injury, and summary counts of careless driving, duty to give information and render aid, and immediate notice of accident.

He was released on $20,000 bail following a hearing before Magisterial District Judge James Carlson in Mansfield Friday, May 12.

When a photographer from this paper attempted to get his photo after the hearing, Parthemer eluded those attempts and was spotted laughing as he was driven away from the court by an unidentified woman, who also was at the hearing.

Is this the same James R. Parthemer that killed a woman
and her horse, drove away and never called police?

A preliminary hearing for Parthemer has been set for Thursday, May 18 at 1 p.m. at Carlson's office.

Barbara J. Vroman, 59, Roaring Branch, was walking her horse on the southern end of Main Street between Liberty and Nevin streets when she and then the horse were struck from behind by a pickup at about 7:15 p.m., according to Blossburg police. The driver of the truck did not stop, police report.

Police were dispatched to the scene at 7:22 p.m.

Vroman was taking the horse to her and her husband's home in Roaring Branch, about 10 miles from Blossburg, according to Blossburg Police Cpl. Joshua McCurdy.

Vroman was pronounced dead an hour later at Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hospital, Wellsboro. The horse also sustained injuries and was pronounced dead the following morning after being taken to a veterinary clinic in Troy.

The day after the crash, Blossburg police discovered a 1989 Chevrolet pickup truck with damage consistent with an accident. They also report finding several hairs matching those from the horse.

At the time, Regina Burton was identified as the owner of the truck. However, Burton told police that she did not have possession of the vehicle when the incident occurred.

Parthemer, Burton's boyfriend, was later identified as the driver of the vehicle.

According to police records, Parthemer believed that he had hit the curb and that at the time of the accident he was checking the gauges on the car and adjusting the heat.

He also claims he did not see Vroman or the horse.

If it were truly an accident? why didn't he stop? I can take a guess - he was drinking, or he didn't have a license or the vehicle didn't have insurance or he was on probation for something.

Asked why stiffer charges, such as homicide by vehicle or vehicular manslaughter were not filed, Tioga County Assistant District Attorney George Wheeler said: "We filed the charges that we believe are supported by the evidence.”

This gets them a "bad DA/judge" tag for the article. 

The statutory maximum for the felony count of accidents involving death or personal injury is up to seven years and the minimum mandatory is one year.

Update to story: 
James Parthemer, who pleaded no contest in October to a charge of leaving the scene of an accident involving death, was sentenced in the Tioga County Court of Common Pleas this week to one to three years in the state correctional system.

(Tioga Publishing - May 19, 2006)

Friday, May 19, 2006

Mississippi: Jean Norton and Beverly Greenwood found guilty of animal cruelty after their DIY horse rescue "Choctaw Ridge Farms Rescue" is found to have rotting carcasses lying everywhere

MISSISSIPPI -- The president and vice president of a Lincoln County-based rescue operation for large hoofed animals were found guilty of misdemeanor animal cruelty without criminal intent Wednesday in Lincoln County Justice Court.

Jean Norton, 67, and Beverly Greenwood, 43, of 2274 Mallalieu Drive, control the day-to-day operations of Choctaw Ridge Farms Rescue in Ruth.

The operation rescues hoofed animals from kill-sale situations, as well as animals surrendered by individuals.

“Cruelty to animals is not necessarily an intentional act. A lack of means leads to neglect,” said Judge Judy Case Martin during her ruling. “I don’t have any doubt you two ladies love those animals. I think your hearts are in the right place, but you need to try not to overload yourselves.”

Hey Judge Martin, why don't you say a few sympathetic words for the animals that suffered at the hands of these two women. Maybe they didn't purposely starve them to death, but they refused to stop bringing home animals, knowing they couldn't afford to care for them all. Animals that needed vet care were denied so these ladies could feed their own selfish needs of being seen as "saviors" to their community. Meanwhile the animals languished and suffered. AND DIED.

Martin withheld final judgement, but placed the women under six months probation. A veterinarian appointed by the court will inspect the farm within the next seven days and make monthly visits during the probation period. The women will be required to implement any changes recommended by the veterinarian within a reasonable time period or face further court action.

The judge ruled the women must pay court costs, but did not levy a fine. She said she would review circumstances at the end of the probation before making that decision.

During his final arguments in Wednesday’s trial, County Prosecutor Brady Kellums suggested the women not be fined.

“We have no doubt about their intent or desire to help animals,”he said. “But the facts are their hearts are bigger than their wallets.”

The charges stemmed from a complaint by the Animal Rescue League in Jackson to the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Department earlier this year.

In following up on the complaint, Sheriff’s Department Maj.Dustin Bairfield testified he visited the organization’s operations on Mallalieu Road and on leased property on Topisaw Road.

While inspecting the Topisaw Road location on Feb. 17, Bairfield said he found the skeletal remains or carcasses of four horses and a cow.

He said because of the time of year there was no natural vegetative growth for the animals to eat and the grain bins were empty. He estimated 10-15 horses and cows were on the property, but he did not take an inventory.

Kellums had repeatedly asked the defendants how they could pay for the 1.5 tons of feed needed each week. Based on their own records, that resulted in a feed bill of approximately $2,000 to $2,300 per month.

That doesn't include needed veterinary care, farrier care, medication (deworming, etc) as well as basic needs - utilities, water, rent, etc. Jean Norton gets social security checks while Bev Greenwood claims she's disabled and gets disability checks from the government. Where are they getting all this money? The truth is there is NO money and that's why these animals are starving and going without needed vet care and slowly dying one by one and then rotting in the pasture. These two women are vile.

Jean Norton claimed the animals are fed daily and the bins were empty because feed cannot be left for horses because damp feed can cause them to founder.

So where's the hay? Put a roll of hay out there for them. Where was the stored grain and hay? There's no mention of that.

She also detailed the cause of death for each animal, which included pneumonia and animal attacks by wild dogs.

Does she have any vet bills to prove these claims?

Norton admitted, however, that initial attempts to get equipment to bury the animals had failed and they “were going to try to get it done at a later date, but did not get it done.”

So basically they had rotting corpses lying everywhere... which, if she was lying about "wild dogs" roaming, attacking and killing 2,000 pound animals, they would certainly be drawn to a rotting, stinking corpse left lying in the pasture.

Bairfield testified there were no worrisome discrepancies at the Mallalieu Road site.

Testimony then focused on the animals kept on the Topisaw Road property, which Choctaw Ridge Farms no longer leases.

Bairfield said his primary reason in pursuing the charge was for the judge to issue “a form of probation to limit the amount of animals they take in.”

While on the stand, Norton and Greenwood testified to the operation of the farm and its financing.

The farm, which has been in operation for about two years, is in the process of becoming a registered non-profit organization, but the paperwork has not been completed, Norton said.

In the meantime, it is being primarily financed by the personal income of Norton and Greenwood, which is limited to social security and disability.

If this woman BEVERLY GREENWOOD is collecting disability checks and has convinced the government she is too frail/sick to work for a living so you and I are paying for her to stay home, she had better not be out there hauling hay, carrying 50-lb feed sacks, etc. or she needs to be put in jail.

Kellums repeatedly asked the defendants how they could pay for the 1.5 tons of feed needed each week. Based on their own records,that resulted in a feed bill of approximately $2,000 to $2,300 per month. Those figures did not include the many veterinarian visits the defendants received while caring for the animals.

“I can just tell you that the animals are not being starved,”Norton said.

The operation is heavily in debt, she admitted, but local feed stores work with them in postponing payments until a horse is restored enough to be adopted for a small fee. They use those fees to try to catch up on bills, she said.

“You have to understand that these animals are in very poor shape when we get them,” Norton said. “Some never gain weight,despite diet supplements.”

Greenwood said some horses cannot be saved and must be euthanized.

Others can make a good companion horse, but can never be ridden.Some recover completely.

“I can’t make them all cosmetically to be what people want to see,” she said. “Some things can’t be cured and some never recover.”

After the ruling, Greenwood said she did not fault the judge in her ruling, but did not agree that the animals were neglected or abused.

“I don’t think we’ve ever denied we are financially in need, but I think the main fact is that the animals are being fed properly,”she said. “I feel like she had the concern of the animals in mind.”

FOUR YEARS LATER

Jan. 30, 2010, 12:16 AM
CHOCTAW RIDGE FARMS, Ruth, MS

I am moving to the Carriere, MS; and I was looking for horses for adoption at Petfinder.com In googling "Choctaw Ridge Farms", I found this discussion and AnimalCollectors.net, and I am just sickened at what these people are doing. These people were tried and convicted of Animal Cruelty 2006 and jailed on contempt charges in May 2007.

It looks like the 2006 conviction stemmed from charges brought by the
Mississippi Animal Rescue League
http://www.msarl.org/contact.php

5221 Greenway Drive Ext.
Jackson, MS 39204
(601) 969-1631
and
Lincoln County Sheriff's Dept.
Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office
Sheriff Steve Rushing
215 Justice Street
Brookhaven, MS 39601
601-833-5231
and the Judge was Judy Case Martin who seems to have been removed to to judicial misconduct unrelated to this matter. Her replacement is
Judge Ralph Boone
Post 1
P.O. Box 767
Brookhaven, MS 39602
601-835-3475 phone
601-835-3494 fax

I hope that everyone has e-mailed PetFinder and contacted any other organizations that are listing Choctaw Ridge Farms. In addition, I hope that everyone will contact MS Animal Rescue League, the Lincoln County Sheriff's office, and the Post 1 judge. Based on the newspaper article, the judge was delusional in her sentencing and completely unaware of the history on this woman.

(Daily Leader - May 18, 2006)

Earlier:
  • Mississippi: DIY rescuers Jean Norton Beverly Greenwood deny animal cruelty charges

Tuesday, May 16, 2006

Mississippi: DIY rescuers Jean Norton Beverly Greenwood deny animal cruelty charges

MISSISSIPPI -- Two Lincoln County women are scheduled to be in Lincoln County Justice Court Wednesday to face charges of animal cruelty.

Jean Norton, 67, and Beverly Greenwood, 43, of 2274 Mallalieu Dr. S.E., Ruth, were charged with misdemeanor cruelty to animals that they keep at Choctaw Ridge Farms Rescue. It is located on Mallalieu Road in the Ruth community.

Norton and Greenwood rescue hoofed animals from kill-sale (horse slaughter auctions) situations, as well as animals surrendered by individuals. The couple also have a menagerie of other animals, including cows, pigs, sheep and dogs – some personal, some not – on the property.

Lincoln County Sheriff Wiley Calcote said complaints have been coming in about Greenwood and Norton for the past year. Also, officials with the animal rescue league in Jackson have looked at the facility, Calcote said.

“We’ve gone as far as the Sheriff’s Department can go,” Calcotesaid. “Its now up to the justice court.”

Calcote said the women have a good idea in helping rescue hoofed animals, but he wants to make sure it is done in a humane way.

“They have a good thing in mind,” said Calcote, himself a horse enthusiast who is involved in rodeos and similar activities. “But there comes to a point in time to put an animal down.”

Several people in the area are concerned about what is going on at the farm, Calcote said.

“We’ve been investigating the matter for about a year,” hesaid.

The sheriff said some complaints have also surfaced about dead carcasses laying in the pastures.

“This is when it becomes a liability to others,” said Calcote, indicating that neighbors were concerned about sickness and diseases.

Greenwood said only three horses have died since they’ve been at their current location. Each time, she said, a bulldozer was hired to come in and bury the animal.

Greenwood said she keeps detailed records on all of her horses and keeps them up to date on shots and wormings.

“All of our animals have up to date Coggins,” said Greenwood, referring to a state-mandated blood test.

Greenwood was aware of the complaints lodged against her. She indicated the complaints began shortly after she and Norton came to Lincoln County.

Greenwood and Norton moved to the 11-acre site around two years ago. The pair also rent pasture land for their animals.

While discussing caring for over 30 sick horses and the other animals, Greenwood admitted she had a hard time turning away an animal.

Thirty horses on 11 acres??? That's ridiculous. In a perfect world, you'd want 5 acres per horse but absolute minimum would be 1 acre per horse unless you have the money to constantly buy their feed and hay.

“I can say ‘no’ to people, but I have a hard time saying ‘no’ to an animal,” Greenwood said.

Most of the horses rescued by Greenwood and Norton are malnourished or injured when they take possession of them. The women take the horses, rehabilitate them and offer them for adoption, which can turn into a long, drawn-out process.

Greenwood said when a horse starts to decline, it does so in stages. First, it loses body fat; then muscle mass; and then its hair; and then its skin will begin to slough off.

She said the process then reverses when the horse begins to recover. That is why it takes a horse so long to begin to look better, she said.

The women receive no special funding or grants to assist with the care of the horses. They rely strictly on their incomes, which include Social Security and disability.

“We go through a ton and half of feed in six days and five to seven round bales of hay a week,” Greenwood said.

The pair estimate they have spent about $45,000 on feed in the past two years.

On social security and disability checks??? I doubt it. Plus, why is Beverly Greenwood claiming to be disabled?

Norton and Greenwood were adamant about being innocent of the charges being brought against them.

“The charges just aren’t true,” Norton said.

THE DEVIL'S WORKSHOP
 From animalcollectors.net (which does not appear to be live any longer):
 
"Leopards don't change their spots"!  Neither do animal collectors and abusers.  The only thing that has changed with Greenwood's relocation to Ruth, MS, is the locale.

This is an account by a resident of Ruth, MS, complied over the weekend of January 22/23, 2005.

Beverly Greenwood is currently living at 2274 Mallalieu Dr., Ruth, MS, located outside of Brookhaven, MS. She is living with Gean H. Norton, the owner of the property where they are currently keeping horses, cows, goats, chickens and a lot of dogs.

The total acreage of their current location is about 11.14 acres.  Part of the land is wooded so there is about 6 or 7 acres of pasture. There are currently about 30 horses and 10 cows on the place, and this would be on the low side. It's hard to keep up because poorer animals are constantly being moved into less visible areas. There are also goats and chickens, and 20-30 dogs which run loose together, and are continuously fighting among themselves.

Gean is a woman. The rumor is she inherited some money, and that's how they bought the place. She introduced Beverly as her daughter to 2 different people. Apparently she has a place in Bogue Chitto. These two occasionally go on trips they call "work", so may still be involved in dog relocation. Beverly's two daughters, Monique and Danielle, are also involved in this operation. (Beverly Greenwood also has a son located in Bogue Chitto named Brian Huval.)

Beverly and Gean represent themselves as rescuers of animals, but in the 7 months they have been living there, not one animal's conditions has improved. The skeletons they bring in stay skeletons and the fat horses start losing weight. 3 horses have died, 2 in the last month. These are only the ones I'm aware of. They also had a dead colt, caused when bad weather made the mare go into labor early.

One of the cows is nothing but a skeleton with a hide stretched over it, and they have 3 calves and 1 yearling nursing her.

Different people that live in the area have contacted the Humane Society, the sheriff, the State Animal Health department and the Board of Health with no results.

Since the Pets and People.org people continue to defend Beverly and have her on their board, they may be providing some of the funding for this animal hell. Pets and People is not a registered charity listed on the Registered Charities for the state of Mississippi. A neighbor called the phone number listed on the Pets and People website last night (January 23,2005), and it was answered by Gean Norton who is in Ruth, Mississippi. She verified through the operator that this is a cell phone number.

A lot of the animals are hidden on one side of their place I can't really get to, or get good pictures with my digital camera. Some of the skinnier horses are over there. The Belgian mare in these photos came in huge and you can see what she looks like now.

There is a dead calf laying on the back part of their place, also. I had heard about it and checked for myself this morning. It looks like it was born dead, not surprisingly since the cow is very poor. They hauled her off this afternoon (January 22, 2005).

When Norton and Greenwood moved onto this place in June, 2004, the Belgian mare in the photos was one of the first horses they brought in. She was hugely fat, even after she had a colt a week or so later. I don't know what happened to the colt, as I haven't seen it in several months. The mare has steadily lost weight since she arrived.

Horses have continued to arrive almost weekly since they took possession of the place. Fat horses come in and begin to lose weight. There is absolutely no improvement in any of the horses that are brought in already poor.

A horse died there some time in the late summer or early fall. It was taken to a vet in Franklin county to be put down because, "Franklin County buries them for free."

Two horses died within weeks of each other on November and December, 2004. No vet was ever called for either of them.

The second one was a Belgian gelding that also came in very fat and had steadily lost weight. It died in their barn after a neighbor had heard it kicking all night. It weighed over 1500 pounds when it came in. He started losing weight immediately, and probably weighed less than a 1000 pounds when he was allowed to die. After being warned by neighbors that there was something wrong with the horse, he was put into their barn where he died after kicking several hours. Although he died early in the day, he was buried under the cover of darkness. . A vet was never contacted, only a guy with a backhoe to bury it.

We try to keep a good eye on these people, but all have full time jobs, so it's not always possible.

(The Daily Leader - May 15, 2006)