The two surviving horses from the Trout Lake property where nine others died from starvation have been moved to Klickitat County.
According to Dr. Michael Foss of Alpine Veterinary Clinic in Hood River, the horses have been put in the care of a horseman who offered to take care of them. Citing privacy issues, Foss declined to identify where the horses went.
"They're eating well, but it's still just a process," Foss said. "They have to take it easy and we can't feed them normally. They are within 80-90 percent of being fine, but there's still a chance to lose them."
The horses were among a group of 11 owned by Teri Cooley of Trout Lake. Eight were found deceased on her property on Feb. 3, and another horse died later. All deaths were the result of starvation.
Cooley was arrested on Feb. 3, and released on her own recognizance. She has pleaded "not guilty" to 11 counts of felony animal abuse, with her trial tentatively set for May 5.
On Monday, two Trout Lake citizens began circulating a petition that calls on Klickitat County Prosecuting Attorney Tim O'Neill not to accept a plea bargain in Cooley's case.
The petition, which will be located at stores and restaurants around Klickitat County, as well as in Hood River and The Dalles, reads as follows: "We, the undersigned, respectfully direct that the Klickitat County Prosecutor prosecute to the fullest extent allowed by law without offering or accepting a plea bargain, sentence reduction, or reduction in charges from the 11 felony counts of animal cruelty in the first degree, pending against Teri Cooley in ... Klickitat County Superior Court."
The petition was sponsored by Trout Lake residents Steve Koenig and George Hinderliter.
"This is something we have to do," Koenig said. "All I'm trying to do is draw attention to all mid-Columbia people that with this type of horrendous crime, we want justice, not a plea bargain."
Koenig added that he hopes to deliver the signed petitions to O'Neill and the Klickitat County Board of Commissioners next Tuesday, March 2.
Koenig also wants the county to draw up new ordinances that would take care of this type of situation if it ever happens in the future, especially regarding disposal of the deceased animals.
"The county has no procedure for dealing with this. It was handled very poorly," Koenig explained. "Those horses laid out there for 11 days on the ground after they were found dead."
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