NEWS &VIEWS You Can Use
Four Horses, Five Ponies Seized; Owner turns to media to protest
On June 4, 2013, after obtaining a warrant, Anne
Arundel County Animal Control impounded four horses, fi ve ponies and several goats from a small boarding facility known as Severn Stables on Upton Road in Severn (located between Fort Meade and BWI Airport). Severn Stables has been owned and operated
by the Sweeney family for close to fi fty years (Severn Stables has been in T e Equiery’s database since at least 1993). T e small farm has provided boarding for a handful of horses or ponies, as well as a smattering of other animals. It is currently managed by Donald Sweeney, who provides ponies for local parties and participates with his horses in activities such as the Renaissance Festival and local horse shows. According to the AP News Service reported: Authorities say animal control has been
regularly checking the property since January, when a dead horse and two dead baby goats were removed. T e other animals were left there, but the owner was required to obtain veterinary treatment for them, provide proper shelter and address other issues. But offi cials say on Monday, June 3, 2013, animal control got information from a veterinarian indicating that the animals needed to be removed.
Anne Arundel County Animal Control is housing the seized horses at Days End Farm Horse Rescue in Howard County. For the most part, Donald Sweeney corroborates this account, but with an explanation. In an interview with T e Equiery, Sweeney explained that his elderly horse, Big Rig, had taken a turn for the worse. He arranged with his vet to euthanize Big Rig, but Big Rig died before the vet arrived. It was January and quite cold out. Sweeney explained that he was getting ready to dig a hole to bury the horse, when Animal Control arrived. Sweeney believes that Animal Control was most likely called in by someone living in the new development surrounding the farm, someone who perhaps was upset at the sight of a dead horse. According to Sweeney, the baby goats had been stillborn. Nevertheless, according to Sweeney, Animal Control did leave them with a list of improvements that could be made, and the couple was attempting to comply. According to Sweeney, an autopsy confi rmed that the horse died of natural causes related to
old age.
In April, Sweeney and his fi ancée Leah Dorsey (who owns fi ve of the seven horses and ponies seized) acquired a horse named Hope from an auction in New Jersey that is reputed to be a feed lot for a Canadian meat processing plant. Sweeney explains that the mare was severely underweight when she arrived. T ey immediately dewormed her and put her on a high-fat feed, but says that they were having trouble getting the mare to pick up weight, for which they had consulted their vet. During this time, Animal Control visited the farm, and Sweeney assured T e Equiery that they were doing everything they could to comply with Animal Control’s recommendations. Sweeney also explained that that was the only underweight horse on the farm. T e Equiery does not have independent verifi cation of this. Mainstream media reports that, according to Animal Control,
“several” horses were
malnourished and underweight. Sweeney and Dorsey dispute this, and claim that only one was underweight—the one they had acquired from a feed lot. As of this time, as Animal Control has not fi led any charges, so the number of underweight horses cannot be corroborated. (Sweeney cited two very well-respected vets as his primary and secondary vets; as of press, T e Equiery has not had time to independently verify his vets and so is choosing not to publish their names.) T e Equiery has tried to reach authorities in
Anne Arundel County, but has not—as of press time—heard back. Despite published reports stating that Anne Arundel County Animal Control is “working closely” with the County State’s Attorney’s offi ce, and the investigation is “active and ongoing,” as of press time, no charges had been fi led, nor have any citations been issued that can be found in public records. Frustrated that the county had taken no legal action against them, and were not providing them with any means to begin the process of acquiring back their animals through hearings or via any charges which they could answer, Sweeney and Dorsey took matters into their own hands, fi ling a claim on June 11 requesting an injunction against Anne Arundel County Animal Control. According to court documents, on June 17,
District Court Judge John McKenna saw enough merit in their petition to grant their request for a
hearing for said injunction against AAC Animal Control; the hearing is scheduled for July. While fl ummoxed that the county would seize all their horses because of one underweight horse, and baffl ed that despite the seizure, no charges or citations have been issued against them, the couple expressed eagerness to have their horses returned as soon as possible, and thus they claim they are willing to work with Animal Control— within reason—to alleviate any concerns Animal Control may have. And they have not been shy in this request, granting interviews to major news outlets, while Anne Arundel authorities continue to remain out of sight. Ironically, according to the Capital Gazette, AAC Animal Control actually used Severn Stables in 2011 to house other animals temporarily, while waiting for permanent homes. To read more about the seizure, please see
equiery.com. July 1: Paying More at the Pump
After being heavily debated and amended, the gas tax has been signed into law by the Governor. Starting July 1, all Marylanders will have to pay more at the pump. How much more? According to the Maryland Farm Bureau, the new law will result in an increase in the price of gasoline by 4 cents in July 2013, another 8 cents by January 2015, and possibly another 8 cents by July 2016. Also, the Maryland sales tax would be assessed to gasoline at a rate of 1% beginning July 1, 2013 and 2% beginning January 1, 2015. And, unless federal legislation is enacted by December 1, 2015, authorizing the state to require the collection of the sales and use tax on sales made by out-of-state sellers to Maryland consumers, the rate would increase from 3% to 4% beginning January 1, 2016, and increase to 5% beginning in fi scal 2017. What do these percent increases mean based on today’s fuel prices and assuming 2.5% Consumer Price Index (CPI)? T e list below shows the projected fuel tax impacts based on cents per gallon. • July 1, 2013 – 3.8 cents/gallon increase • July 1, 2014 – 0.5 cents/gallon increase • January 1, 2015 – 3.3 cents/gallon increase • July 1, 2015 – 3.8 cents/gallon increase • January 1, 2016 – 3.3 cents/gallon increase (if Congress does not pass interstate sales tax; if Congress passes the tax, there will be no increase at this time)
continued...
IF YOU HAVE NEWS, VIEWS OR UPDATES TO CONTRIBUTE, PLEASE SEND THEM TO Editor at The Equiery, P.O. Box 610, Lisbon, MD 21765 • FAX: 410-489-7828 • email
editor@equiery.com.
Be sure to include your full name, phone number and address. All submissions become the property of The Equiery. 8 | THE EQUIERY | JULY 2013 800-244-9580 |
www.equiery.com
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96