A Hollister woman is facing animal cruelty charges after deputies pulled three emaciated horses off a Putnam County property this month, according to authorities. One mare, an 8-year-old bay named Alex, later went into distress and was humanely euthanized. The two remaining horses were taken to a rescue operation, where they are now under veterinary care.
Concern in the neighborhood had been building since late June, when a resident snapped a photo of Alex and offered to take the mare for treatment. Investigators say the offer was turned down. The property owner, identified as 29-year-old Cheyenne Baldwin, told Agriculture Deputy Mullins that Alex was a “hard keeper” and was struggling to eat, details described by News4JAX.
Search warrant and seizure
On July 8, a judge approved a search warrant, and multiple deputies headed to the rural Hollister property to check on and remove the three horses, according to Action News Jax. The sheriff’s office said all three animals showed signs of emaciation that ranged from moderate to severe. They were transported to a local horse rescue for rehabilitation. Two of the animals, named Sanji and June Bug, remain at the rescue and are expected to make a full recovery, according to the sheriff’s office.
Veterinary findings and outcome
Veterinarians evaluated the horses around July 10 and found that each needed hoof care and dental work. Two of the animals also showed signs of rain rot, a skin condition that is typically preventable with regular grooming, according to News4JAX. Alex went into distress on July 13, and caretakers, a veterinarian and Deputy Mullins agreed that euthanasia was the most humane option. The sheriff’s office says the rescue is continuing efforts to rehabilitate Sanji and June Bug.
Charges and bond
A warrant was later issued for Baldwin, who was arrested on three counts of cruelty toward animals. She was booked into the Putnam County Jail and released on a $30,000 bond, according to Action News Jax. Deputies say the investigation is still active, and prosecutors will ultimately decide how to move the case forward.
What the law says
Under Florida law, simple animal cruelty is typically treated as a misdemeanor. Aggravated animal cruelty, which covers conduct that leads to an animal’s cruel death or causes excessive or repeated suffering, is a third-degree felony that can bring prison time and fines. Florida Statute 828.12 also gives courts the power to bar convicted offenders from owning or caring for animals and to impose additional penalties. For more details, see Florida Statute 828.12.
Broader trend in Florida
This Putnam County seizure comes on the heels of several high-profile horse-neglect cases across Florida this year. In April, an Ocala horse rescue was busted after deputies seized nearly 70 animals and veterinarians described dozens of them as emaciated. Animal-welfare groups say these large-scale neglect investigations are expensive and time-consuming, and that long-term care for seized horses often falls to already stretched nonprofits and county-run farms.
