The county appears to be out of the horse business after some horses owned by a Hutchinson area woman was turned over to an animal rescue facility which will see that the horses are adopted out.
The county also managed to get a injunction in a civil suit against Lisa Sack which would keep her from owning horses in the foreseeable future.
Reno County Sheriff’s Department and Reno County Health Department officials took custody of 11-horses from the residence at 2911 West 56th. The report indicating that the horses were not being properly cared for and allegedly one dead horse was found on the property at that time they arrived.
Criminal charges are also pending against Sack where a pretrial is scheduled for Thursday. County Counselor Joe O’Sullivan says any restitution will take place through the criminal case. In the criminal case, Sack is charged with a misdemeanor charge of cruelty to animals and unlawful disposal of a carcass. The alleged crimes occurring on May 20, according to the criminal complaint. The case is being handled using a special prosecutor, that being Jason Lane.
It was just last week that Judge Tim Chambers granted a similar injunction against another Reno County woman convicted of animal abuse involving her horses.
Linda Sue Adams was granted 12-months probation, on a 12-month sentence in the two cases against her which also involved the lack of care of horses.
Magistrate Judge Randy McEwen has set a hearing for September 25 to see if the two sides can come up with a dollar amount on the restitution in that case.
O’Sullivan was able to get Judge Chambers to grant the county injunction forbidding Adams from owning horses ever again. However, the judge did note that as part of the sentencing, there was an injunction in place which doesn’t allow her to have horses during the probation period. The judge said at the end of the probation, she could petition the court to see if she could again own horses if she can show just cause. The county could fight to keep the permanent injunction in place.