Justice in the Prince Edward County Case

For Immediate Release

Jury Recommends 2-year Jail Term for Woman in Animal Cruelty Case in Virginia

Richmond, Virginia. August 12, 2010 - A Circuit Court Jury in Prince Edward County, Virginia found Michelle C. Artese of Prospect, Virginia guilty today of 6 counts of Animal Cruelty and recommended a 24 month jail term and a $11,000.00 fine in the death of one horse and neglect and starvation of 5 other horses.
Artese was originially convicted on 6 counts in Prince Edward County District Court on September 18, 2009. Animal Control assisted by the United States Equine Rescue League, seized 10 horses on a property rented by Artese on February 3, 2009 after one horse was found dead on the property and the remaining 10 were in various stages of neglect and starvation. Artese appealed her conviction to the Circuit Court and requested a jury trial.
All ten horses were turned over to the United States Equine Rescue League after the judge awarded the horses to the county in March 2009. Nine of the horses have been rehabilitated and are now in good health. One of the most severely starved horses, a young colt, was humanely euthanized after he was unable to recover from the neglect that he had suffered.
Formal sentencing is scheduled for October 14, 2010 in Prince Edward County Circuit Court, Farmville, Virginia.
USERL, a 501(c) 3 non-profit organization, was created in 1997 to educate the public about proper care of their equines and to rehabilitate and eventually find homes for neglected and abused horses. With the all volunteer staff, USERL relies on donations to care for and rehabilitate horses in need until they can be placed in a permanent home.

USERL- Richmond Region
PO Box 28378
Richmond, Virginia 23228
http://www.userl-vard.org/

WTKR news coverage of USERL

Here is a link to the news coverage done by WTKR in Tidewater, VA of the recent USERL rescues. Thanks go out to Amy our Tidewater Regional Director and all of theTidewater volunteers for all their hard work and for getting our message out!
http://www.wtkr.com/news/wtkr-horse-rescue-story-dan,0,1444266.story

We understand that this story is now on CNN...way to go team

J.J. and Shalimar

J.J. and Shalimar

We have two new rescues here at our farm. They are temporary fosters at this time but if Sarah has any say in the matter they will be permanent residents. Sarah came today to meet them and of course didn't want to go home. She is returning latter this week to spend 6 days (according to her). J.J and Shalimar came together and wherever J.J.(the pony) goes so does Shalimar (the goat). They are both very cute and well behaved little girls.