Horses, donkey await new homes, better life
Jeffco Animal Control officer Chris Padilla and Melissa Smith of Denver discuss Buddy.
JEFFERSON COUNTY – A corral near Golden became a shopping site of sorts Wednesday as prospective horse owners petted and inspected a herd of horses and a donkey up for adoption by the Jeffco Sheriff’s Office.
Amanda Smith and her mom, Melissa, were there looking for one, maybe two horses, to replace the two mounts they are retiring.
“If I had a lot of money, I’d adopt them all,” Melissa Smith said as she watched the animals mill about.
Instead, the family is on a budget. Amanda’s horse has begun to experience leg problems and her mom’s horse is just getting old.
Amanda, a member of the Westernnaires equestrian group, had her eye on Buddy, a compact and stout horse with a pleasant temperament but a dominating personality and a streak of mischief, according to Animal Control Officer Chris Padilla.
“He’s very sweet, but he will test you,” Padilla told the Smiths.
The Sheriff’s Office was awarded ownership of the 17 animals by court order after they were seized during an animal cruelty and neglect investigation. The former owner, John McCulley was charged with 38 counts of animal neglect and one count of animal cruelty.
The animals were taken from the McCulley in May after deputies investigating reports of a man dragging a horse behind a truck found an injured and emaciated horse behind an outbuilding at 12601 W. 82nd Ave. The horse had to be euthanized.
Investigators also noticed several other apparently malnourished horses on the property and took custody of them. Farmers, horse owners, veterinarians and other members of Jeffco’s equestrian community responded, nursing the horses and donkey back to health in an effort coordinated by the Table Mountain Animal Center and Animal Control officers.
The incident marked the second time some of the horses had been taken from McCulley.
Last week he entered a guilty plea to misdemeanor animal cruelty charges resulting from a 2007 case in which 27 horses and a pig were seized from McCulley.
Those animals, which appeared to be malnourished and mistreated, according to investigators, were returned to McCulley by order of District Court Judge Charles Hoppin.
Many of the horses up for adoption were among the horses returned to McCulley two years ago, according to the District Attorney’s Office.
Hoppin will sentence McCulley Oct. 16. Each of the two misdemeanor charges carries a penalty of up to 24 months in jail.
More than 90 applicants have volunteered to adopt the animals and Wednesday was the first time prospective owners could take a close look at them, said Jim Shires, Sheriff’s Office spokesman.
But, before any adoptions are completed, Animal Control officers want to take an equally close look the applicants. Officers will inspect the facilities where the horses will be kept and interview the applicants, Shires said.
