Animal cruelty goes unrecognized for months
By AGAN TANKERSLEY

NEGLECTED HORSE ON PEELER PROPERTY (Photo by Gail Douglas)

The news of the neglected horses hit big last Tuesday when WJBF Channel 6 covered the story. Terri Peeler was the owner of the horses and had left the horses several years ago; her father was feeding the horses until about six months ago. There were 18 horses at one time, but the numbers slowly decreased when the horses were not being cared for. Four horses were moved recently because of an agreement about hay for the other horses.

Ashley Mason reported the neglected horses. Mason is a neighbor and has watched this devastating sight take place for months. When a horse died, Peeler would come home and throw a tarp over the dead animal. Mason contacted the Department of Agriculture, Sheriff's Department, and the Humane Society. These calls were made approximately six months ago. County officials went out to the property last week and buried another dead horse. Until last week, it seemed that the horses had "slipped through the cracks."

Last Friday, the Department of Agriculture released news about the horses. Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Tommy Irvin stated, "The four horses remaining on an Emanuel County farm where one horse had died have been sold. Ms. Terri Peeler, the owner of the horses, informed us last evening (Thursday, May 17) that she had sold all of the horses. Our inspector will follow up with the new owners to assure that all of them are cared for in compliance with the Humane Care for Equines Act. We are issuing a notice of violation to Ms. Peeler for the dead animal and the inhumane care of animals while under her ownership. I am pleased that Ms. Peeler saw the need to sell the horses so that they could be cared for properly."

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