Horse abuse case draws fire

By Barry Porterfield
Staff Writer

July 03, 2008 02:05 pm

— The number seven doesn’t appear to be lucky for an Elmore City area man now formally accused of neglecting that same number of his own horses.
A felony charge of cruelty to animals has been filed in Garvin County District Court against David Peery, 47, for alleged actions dating back to earlier this year.
The charge accuses Peery of failing to care for seven horses with one so malnourished that officials were forced to euthanize the animal right where he fell.
County deputies were initially contacted about a down horse on Feb. 21.
A veterinarian called to the site east of Elmore City concluded the horse appeared to be starved and too weak to get up after falling.
Authorities were told by family members of Peery that he had not been feeding the horses.
Reports show Peery's neighbors had put two bales of hay out just before officers arrived at the scene as there was no grass in the 3-acre pasture and the bark eaten off all the trees there.
After the one horse was euthanized the remaining six animals were determined to be in various degrees of malnourishment.
All were considered to be in a very dangerous condition.
Deputies reported Peery later admitted to neglecting the horses but claimed to be unaware the situation was so bad.
He later released the rights of the horses to the sheriff’s office so the animals still alive could be placed with new owners.
Authorities said Peery surrendered Wednesday on the warrant issued for his arrest related to the single charge.
He is reported to have made his first appearance on the formal accusation later that same day in a Pauls Valley courtroom before being released on his own recognizance.