Two Stripes and Shawn
On March 21, 2009, Panhandle Equine investigators seized two horses from a Cantonment property due to neglect. One horse, known as Shawn was emaciated and the other horse; Two Stripes was also very thin. The owner of the property stated that they were under the care of Clay and Katherine Bell and he very seldom saw them come out to feed. He was very concerned for the welfare of the horses, in addition to three cows that were also on his property and relied on the Bells for food. PER notified the Escambia County Sheriffs Office about the cows, but the livestock officer was not called because the cows were not "down" and they were on private property.
This has been an ongoing problem in this county stated Diane Lowery, President of PER and also an investigator authorized by the court. The livestock officer's contract states that he can only go on public right of way, which leaves a lot of animals that are suffering from neglect remaining in bad situations. We also have received complaints of citizens who actually captured livestock at large, contained them on their property, to then have the sheriffs office tell them that the livestock officer would not pick them up, since they were now on private land. The citizens are at a loss as to what to do at that point. PER has met with the sheriffs department attorney and she won't change the contract to include private property.
There are also a lot of animals that "slip through the cracks", because no one wants to bear the responsibility for cows, pigs, goats, poultry, etc. PER has sat down individually with all of the county commissioners, the bureau Chief of Corrections, the Environmental Enforcement Manager, the Supervisor of Animal Control and the county attorney, but they feel that the sheriffs department should handle livestock. The sheriffs office insists that the commissioners should provide for them. It will take a public outcry from Escambia County taxpayers and voters for anything to ever be done about this, Lowery states. It will be up to our community to "fix it" or business as usual will continue as it has for years. PER began equine rescues and investigations in 2005 due to the same problem that was occuring with horses. We aren't in the position to house cows, goats, pigs, etc., especially since we rely solely on donations. The county is required by Florida Statute and county ordinance to provide for them, but they simply won't step up. They say it is due to budget cuts and they must prioritize. (See the story on Champagne and Jack on the home page; PER rescued four goats and two pigs, because the county would not respond) PER rescuers just couldn't leave them behind.
Clay and Katherine Bell were charged and prosecuted on two counts of confinement of animals without sufficient food, water or exercise. The fate of the cows remain unknown.
A new video of Shawn has been added.
Click here for new video of Shawn
