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Central Point woman pleads no contest to livestock neglect By JILL BRISKEY A Central Point woman on Thursday claimed that her failing health and poor financial situation led to the long-term neglect of 12 horses and the death of two pigs. Joyce Dezell, 56, who lives at 5188 N. Pacific Highway, pleaded no contest to four counts of second-degree animal neglect in a Jackson County court. Dezell originally was charged with 16 counts of second-degree animal neglect but the additional charges were dropped in a plea agreement. Dezell's horses - all suffering from malnutrition, parasites and equine thrush (a bacterial disease that attacks hooves and can cause lameness) - were seized by county animal control officials April 27. The horses are being cared for by volunteers from Res-Q Ranch and have recovered from their ordeal. Dezell was ordered to forfeit the seized animals and was sentenced to two years' supervised probation. She must also pay court fines and reimburse the county for the horses' care. However, that figure has not been determined. The majority of the cost of care so far - an estimated $13,344 - has been covered by community's donations and the Res-Q Ranch's own funding. It costs an estimated minimum of $96 per day for the horses' care. Prior to the criminal charge, animal control officials issued several warnings and visited Dezell's Central Point farm during a two-year period. In April - after seeing no improvement - officers seized eight miniature ponies, two geldings, one mare and a miniature donkey. They were taken to an undisclosed location in Sams Valley and will remain there until the county decides what to do with them. Officials found several animal carcasses on Dezell's property. Raw sewage was draining into the animals' pens. Jackson County Deputy District Attorney Rachel Bridges said a veterinarian was forced to euthanize two pigs mired in mud and feces. Living conditions had deformed the pigs' feet and atrophied their muscles, she added. Bridges said one mare was so bloated with parasites authorities first thought she was pregnant. Most were infested with lice. One horse had a sliced up back-side, scarred because barbed wire had been caught in the animal's tail. Dezell told the court that someone else was caring for her animals - her minor son - because of her poor health and she didn't realize they were in such poor health. "I didn't realize the horses had thrush. I had a bad back and couldn't lift (their hooves)," Dezell told Jackson County Judge Raymond White. "I've been trying to look for a stable manager." "If you don't have money, and you're physically incapable," White responded, "you just can't do it - raise animals." Bridges did not feel jail time was appropriate in Dezell's case. "They didn't appear to be beaten," Bridges said. "This was an act of omission." According to animal control officer Matthew Miller, Dezell still has 44 sheep and goats and a blind horse at her farm. The court ordered that Dezell must allow animal control officials onto her property to inspect her remaining livestock. Miller said county officials will continue to monitor the animals. "We're going to make sure their general welfare is (kept up)," Miller said, adding that the remaining animals are in good condition. Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.