Robin Kelly of Catskill, NY was charged by Columbia-Greene Humane Society/SPCA with 12 counts of animal cruelty for failing to provide proper sustenance to twelve horses kept at her home. Of the twelve horses, five were removed to foster care, including two mares that were rushed to the Equine Medical Center in Chatham under the care of Jerry Bilinski, DVM. The five that were removed scored only a “1” on the Henneke Scale, which ranges from 1 to 9 and measures the fat content of a horse. A “1” is the thinnest a horse can be before death.
“There’s simply no excuse that can be offered by Ms. Kelly that will explain the horrific physical conditions of these horses,” said Ron Perez, CGHS/SPCA President/Investigator.
Kelly was arrested by CGHS/SPCA Chief Investigator Lee DeLisle and Investigator Andrea Walker, and was issued an appearance ticket on June 14, 2011. She has appeared in court and pled not guilty to each charge. The remaining horses are being checked on daily by the Humane Society and are under the care of equine veterinarians. If convicted on all counts, Kelly can receive up to a year in jail and a twelve thousand dollar fine.
All five horses are available for adoption. For more information on adoption, please contact Katrina by phone at (518) 828-6044 ext. 101 or by email at [email protected].
CGHS/SPCA Chief Investigator Lee Delisle and Veterinarian Dr. Danielle Sand examine an emaciated horse owned by Robin Kelly.
One of the 12 counts of animal cruelty, a charge of failure to provide proper sustenance, was issued for the horse pictured here.
An emaciated horse owned by Robin Kelly. Five horses owned by Kelly scored a mere “one” on the Henneke scale, the lowest score possible in measuring the body fat of horses. A skeletal horse under the care of Robin Kelly.
One of many horses forced to endure slow starvation under the care of Robin Kelly. Kelly has denied accountability in the matter by pleading not guilty to each of her 12 counts of animal cruelty.
The prominence of bones on so many horses made it visibly clear to veterinarians and Humane Society staff alike that the equines under Robin Kelly’s care were in need of immediate rescue and/or supervision if they were to survive.