This letter was sent to both Governor Bullock and Attorney General Fox today, May 13.
Re: Animal Abuse at Kountz Arena, Bozeman, MT
I call your attention to, and ask your assistance with, one of the most horrendous cases of animal neglect and abuse with which I have ever had the misfortune of being associated. On Saturday March 28, 2015, while attending a horse show at the Kountz Arena in Bozeman, Montana, several people reported a horrific discovery.
Young Doc Bar, a 1996 APHA Stallion, was found lying in a filthy stall devoid of any bedding. He was alone, lying helpless in his own urine and feces, covered with pressure sores, with overgrown hooves and grossly underweight. But worst of all, he was missing his left front hoof and part of his left front leg. In place was a bloody, festering, swollen, unbandaged and untreated stump.
(see photos on Facebook Page entitled Justice for Young Doc Bar)
The sight was horrific and devastating. They called others over to look at the poor stallion. The ladies also discovered a young calf lying in its own feces, barely alive.
The Sheriff was immediately called. When the officer arrived, the staff hastily threw shavings in the stall, wrapped the stump and put a halter on the suffering horse. A vet was also summoned to see Young Doc Bar and he recommended euthanasia. The horse was made to get up, walk and was led to a trailer.
Young Doc Bar was then hauled on three legs to an undisclosed location. Apparently, Young Doc Bar injured himself in December 2014 and as a result his hoof fell off a month prior to the discovery. So he suffered from December 2014 until the end of March 2015; the final month of suffering included missing a hoof and part of his leg.
It was later reported that Young Doc Bar and the calf were euthanized.
After approximately four weeks of investigation, the Sheriff’s office turned a report in to the County Attorney’s Office recommending prosecution for animal abuse. Now, two weeks later, concerned citizens are unable to get any information on the status of this case from the Gallatin County Attorney’s Office. The County Attorney’s Office is now conducting their own investigation?
I question why this is taking so long. Talk to the witnesses, look at the photographs, case closed. The owner(s) and caretaker(s) of this horse need to be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Absolutely no questions can possibly remain about whether or not animal abuse occurred.
Also, please note that a petition is in existence demanding prosecution. At this time it carries 5,676 signatures.
https://www.change.org/p/marty-lambert-gallatin-mt-gov-cedarridgeequines-yahoo-com-prosecute-dale-kountz-and-the-kountz-arena-for-the-neglect-and-abuse-of-young-doc-bar
Please look in to this case. This is shameful for the State of Montana and shameful for humankind. Signatures on the petition are from all around the world.
Laurienne S. Riley
Corvallis
Linda Roszkiewicz says
I just found out about this two weeks ago , signed the petition and have been trying to find out if they have been charged. The whole thing is beyond my comprehension and I can only hope that it is taking longer because more people will be charged. What about all of the people who must have seen this horse over more than three months time?
I just realized today that I should call the Governors office and the Attorney Generals office which I will do.
These people , and I would like to call them something else, did not even euthanize Young Doc Bar and the calf when the veterinarian stated that was what needed to be done and there were many witnesses. Instead they forced him to load in a trailer and go who knows where on 3 legs !
These people are dangerous and should not be allowed to remain in society.I only wish that the law of the Wild West was still enforce in this situation. They would all be hanging from the nearest trees as this would have been a crime punishable the same way they used to take care of horse thiefs!! Linda Roszkiewicz