Three individuals are facing charges after a 5-year-old mare was found in a severe state of neglect in Panola County, as reported by Action News 5. According to Panola County Sheriff Shane Phelps, Steven Archer and Kaitlyn Kirtley have been charged with animal cruelty, while Angel Brimhall faces charges related to child neglect. The discovery of the emaciated horse prompted intervention from Mississippi Horse Rescue, which indicated law enforcement requested their assistance with the mare.
The non-profit organization, Mississippi Horse Rescue, took to social media detailing the condition of the animal and their involvement. "When we picked her up this morning, we found that she looked much worse than the photos originally sent," they candidly shared in a Facebook post. The horse was reportedly left without food or forage in a small enclosure. Despite the state of neglect, the animal was described as sweet and cooperative during the initial stages of care.
In a connected report by FOX13 Memphis, the mare was initially found malnourished with ribs visibly protruding. The Panola County Sheriff's Office shared Mississippi Horse Rescue's post, highlighting the ongoing investigation, and sought support from the community through donations to aid in the horse's recovery.
Answering an urgent need to nurture the ailing horse back to health, Mississippi Horses laid out a donation goal of $1,500. They said, "Despite being stretched thin with our ongoing pony rescue project, we have faith in our amazing village!" The group announced on Facebook that they had swiftly met their fundraising target. Throughout the ordeal, Mississippi Horse Rescue has emphasized their commitment to the horse's wellbeing, ready to underwrite her care without waiting to first raise the necessary funds.
