Update: Bayfield County ‘Animal Neglect Investigation’ Of Horses Sent To Dist. Atty.

7/12/24 Update:

Courtesy: Bella Bretting

Courtesy: Bella Bretting

TOWN OF BELL, Wis. –  Two days after the Bayfield County Sheriff’s Office said there was not enough evidence to prosecute an animal neglect case involving more than 15 horses, FOX 21 has learned the Sheriff’s Office has sent their investigation over to the District Attorney’s Office for possible charges.

On Wednesday, the Sheriff’s Office said the horses were recently seized from a property in unincorporated Cornucopia after an investigation that lasted “several months.”

Veterinarians then examined the horses, but the Sheriff’s Office said there was insufficient evidence to move forward with the case, and that the horses would be returned.

But on Friday, FOX 21 learned District Attorney Kimberly Lawton received the case from the Sheriff’s Office on Thursday.

Lawton told FOX 21:

“The matter remains under investigation. The horses have not been returned.  The next step is for me to review the evidence and I will decide to issue charges or will send back for further investigation.  The decision has not been made.”

7/10/24

TOWN OF BELL, Wis. – A animal neglect investigation in Bayfield County recently lead to the seizure of more than 15 horses, according to the Sheriff’s Office Wednesday.

Courtesy: Bella Bretting

Lifelong resident of the area, Bella Bretting, provided FOX 21 with recent videos and pictures of the concerned property in unincorporated Cornucopia.  She said on Wednesday that she was fostering a few of the seized horses for the county.

The Bayfield County Sheriff’s Office has been investigating for the past several months with the help of the county’s humane officer, according to a news release Wednesday.

Evidence collected lead to a court-ordered search and seizure warrant of the property, which is when more than 15 horses were removed, according to the Sheriff’s Office.

Courtesy: Bella Bretting

Several veterinarians examined the horses, but the Sheriff’s Office said there was not enough evidence to move forward with the case.

“Due to conflicting medical examinations by the veterinarians, and after consulting with the District Attorney’s Office, there is insufficient evidence to support a referral for criminal prosecution. As a result, the seized animals are being returned to the owner,” according to the original press release posted on the Sheriff’s Office’s Facebook page Wednesday before it was replaced with a press release excluding the paragraph.

The Sheriff’s Office said the owner of the horses has been “cooperative” with the investigation and is “committed” to properly caring for the seized horses.

“The health and well-being of animals together with serving the constitutional rights of all citizens, remain a top priority for the Sheriff’s Office. The Sheriff’s Office understands that animal investigations face heightened public scrutiny. Nonetheless, the investigation and referral of potential prosecutable cases will always be conducted with the same diligence, based on the collected evidence,” according to a statement from the Sheriff’s Office.