A Lancaster County woman is facing felony animal cruelty charges after humane officers found emaciated and injured horses on her property, including an eight-week-old foal who had to be euthanized.
Joanna Fleming, 45, who operates Red Rock Horse Rescue Rehab and Blue Starr Horse Rescue Barn in Peach Bottom, was arrested on Oct. 8 and charged with 10 counts of cruelty, four of them felony charges, according to the Pennsylvania SPCA.
Among the eleven horses found was Baby, a two month old foal, who was septic and had necrotic wounds. Baby was taken to the New Bolton Center where veterinarians determined they could not save her and she was humanely euthanized, the PSPCA said.
The felony charges were for failure to provide veterinary care for four horses removed from her property, including the foal who died.
Fleming also was charged with two misdemeanor counts involving two horses with very underweight body conditions, overgrown hooves and teeth badly in need of dental work.
Fleming was charged with summary counts involving a second foal with a laceration requiring medical attention; a horse with an infected wound on her hind leg; and horses in underweight body conditions and needing dental work.
Efforts to reach Fleming, who was released after posting $25,000 bail, were unsuccessful.
The rescue’s Facebook page described the mission as “rehabbing kill pen and auction horses to good health” and “giving a second chance at life.”
The investigation began in February when the PSPCA received a call from an individual concerned about the condition of the horses on Fleming’s farm. When a humane officer went to the property they did not find conditions that rose to the level of cruelty and provided education on how to properly manage the herd of about 35 horses, said Nicole Wilson, the PSPCA’s director of humane law enforcement.
“We gave her an opportunity to make adjustments,” said Wilson.
A total of five horses were surrendered by Fleming during two follow up visits over the summer, including two miniature horses, a Quarter horse and two thoroughbreds. Separately, a mare and foal abandoned by Fleming on another property were surrendered by that property owner.
On Oct. 8, following another round of warnings about the conditions of specific horses, PSPCA officers and Lancaster County Detectives returned to the property and seized four horses, including a Haflinger cross mare and the foal in distress.
The two-month-old filly had suffered an injury which had become septic and infected her joints, to the point the infection was eating away at her growth plate. After consulting with veterinarians at New Bolton it was determined to humanely euthanize the foal, Wilson said.
“Because the infection had not been treated it became systemic,” said Wilson. “She would have had no quality of life.”
Wilson described the eight-month-long case as a “slow moving car crash.”
“The statute is clear about that which is evidence of an existing crime, which is why the slow removal through surrender or seizure,” she said. “She was not able to keep up with the horses she had. Injuries came when horses were fighting for resources.”
Of the surviving horses, five have been adopted or have been sent to rescue, including the two minis and Quarter horse now at Lancaster Farm Sanctuary.
Five other horses remain in protective custody of the PSPCA, pending the outcome of the case.
Wilson said the case is a reminder to those seeking to donate money to rescues or surrender their horses to a rescue to first conduct thorough research on the organization.
“The case underscores the need for donors and anyone seeking to relinquish a horse to do their due diligence to ensure the rescue isn’t breeding horses, isn’t flipping horses and is providing proper care,” said Wilson.
Because Fleming has had no prior cruelty convictions, Wilson said she may not receive jail time. But the PSPCA will ask that she be ordered to relinquish remaining animals, be prohibited from owning any animals for up to 30 years and that the PSPCA have inspection rights on her property, she said.
Fleming's preliminary hearing is scheduled for Nov. 13.