Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Horses Found Starving

An area woman faces charges of cruelty to animals.

According to Wayne Kisselburg, criminal investigator with the Nevada County Sheriff's Office and Prescott Police Department, the NCSO received information concerning starving horses east of Prescott Friday, Feb. 26.

The Columbia County Animal Protection Society of Magnolia was called out, and sent an agent to investigate.

When officers and the CCAPS agent arrived at the home of Becky Hulan, they found 24 horses in various stages of starvation.

Kisselburg said the first three horses they saw were an average of 400 pounds underweight each. All of the animals showed evidence of a skin disease and had hair falling out.

An area veterinarian was called to the scene to help evaluate the condition of the horses. One had to be put down at the scene. The vet, Kisselburg said, suggested the animals be taken from the woman.

While trying to load the horses, one went down and was later destroyed.

Hope's animal control officer, Tammy Bruce, was contacted and brought trailers to take the horses away.

The remaining 22 horses were taken to Hope and housed at the Southwest Arkansas Livestock District arena. Another horse died while there from its abuse.

Additionally, Kisselburg said, a dog at the home had to be put down as it was nothing but skin and bones.

Hulan, he said, claimed to have been feeding the horses, but the indications at the scene showed otherwise. None of the horses there, he said, were getting the proper care, though hay was found on the farm.

Hulan faces 25 counts of cruelty to animals in connection with this case.