FWPD Pulls Horses From Ranch After Photos

CBS 11

June 05, 2008

When Jim Lane saw photographs with signs that horses he either bought or donated to the Fort Worth Police Department were malnourished and had skin infections, he became angry.

"It's not acceptable, and the pictures speak for themselves," said Lane with the Mounted Patrol Citizens Support Group.

"These are well trained, special horses," said Lane. "When I saw the pictures, I became mad at first, and then later I became sad."

The Fort Worth Police Department keeps all 15 of its horses in a barn on North Houston Street. The horses are often pulled from routine patrol for rest and relaxation, which means they are taken off the 'beat' and allowed to stretch their legs and be free at facilities such as the Wills Ranch, where three of the animals were sent DATE.

After two weeks, there was evidence that the horses had problems.

According to a letter by a veterinarian from Haltom City Animal Hospital noted the animals lost between 100 and 150 pounds in those two weeks. That was enough for police to remove the horses from the Wills Ranch of Highway 377.

"The horses were not in the best condition when they arrived," owner Betty Willis explained on the phone as she drove home from Shreveport.

"The Fort Worth Police Department was very satisfied with the care they were getting at my ranch. On Monday, they removed the horses and told me it was for training purposes, but there were no complaints."

Horse experts say it's not uncommon when new horses are moved to a ranch they often fight and bite with other horses, which may explain the skin condition of the three horses in question.

The horses are recovering at another ranch, police said.

Lane added the City Council may discuss the issue at Tuesday's meeting.

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