|
Background and Update re Saunders' Farm Resolution
To The Editor:
In response to Jessica Mandy's letter to the editor, I would like to provide a background and update.
Because of the outrage by certain community members surrounding Mr. Saunders's arrest and the organized letter writing campaign that followed, I decided to attend all of the hearings on the matter.
With all due respect to observations that "the animals have always looked well cared for and happy," those observations would appear to differ somewhat from those of the Court.
According to my notes on the way in which it was adjudicated, all of Mr. Saunders's personal animals - I believe, five sheep, a goat and a pony - were forfeited to the Humane Society. The judge forbade people living at an address he gave, presumably Mr. Saunders's, from owning animals, with the exception of, what I believe Mr. Saunders terms, the "beef." And, Mr. Saunders was assessed $6,006.82 in restitution for the medical care given to the animals in order to return them to health. This last item, unfortunately, speaks for itself.
The owners of the horses that were also taken from Mr. Saunders's barn relinquished their horses to the Humane Society and were set to testify against Mr. Saunders. Certainly the people who originally reported the situation at Mr. Saunders's farm were at the hearing and going to testify.
Mr. Saunders was allowed to continue to board animals with, I believe, the stipulation that there be a written contract between him and the party deciding to board animals with him. In any event, the border would be responsible for all care and maintenance of his or her animal(s) and would be responsible for the cleaning of the barn.
Apparently someone had notified petabuse.com concerning the situation and the judge allowed Mr. Saunders's attorney to notify the site that the charges had been dismissed and/or disposed of.
Judge Tomann called what sounds to me like a plea bargain a "practical solution to a practical problem," and the matter was adjourned with contemplation of dismissal.
Should Ms. Mandy ever be in a position of needing a place to "entrust" her horse, I am certain that Mr. Saunders would be happy to have a contract drawn.
Margaret Sternberg
Philipstown
| 
