In separate incidents, two Lowndes County men have been charged with animal cruelty for their recent neglect of nearly two dozen equines.

James Jones, of 612 Blackcreek Road, pleaded guilty in Justice Court on Tuesday to one count of misdemeanor cruelty to animals.

Animal Control Officer Steve Scott investigated the incident in July and found nine horses without feed or water, living in dirty stalls that the officer said appeared to have not been cleaned in months.

Scott said the horses’ ribs were visible and there were sores on their backs.

Jones appeared before Justice Court Judge Ron Cooke and informed the judge that as a former animal control officer, he would never abuse an animal saying, “Ain’t no way I would starve a horse.”

Judge Cooke handed down the maximum fine of $100 plus court costs of $85.25.

Jones could have faced nine counts of animal cruelty, but was only charged with one. This was his first offense.

In a separate incident, Animal Control officers and Lowndes County deputies today will seize 11 horses, four mules and a donkey from James Cochran’s residence on Hartford Lane off Highway 69 after receiving a tip that his horses were malnourished.

Animal Control officer Bobby Reeves investigated the call and discovered the horses, along with mules and a donkey, all with protruding bones — indicators of malnourishment.

Reeves said the animals appear to have been in dire conditions for the better part of a year.

He said the pasture in which the horses grazed did not have sufficient grass, nor did they have adequate feed, and the animals needed to be treated for worms.

This is not the first time officers have paid a visit to Cochran’s property. According to Reeves, he first met Cochran last year when he had a malnourished mare. Cochran nursed the mare back to health, but he has twice the number of horses now.

All equines on Cochran’s property will be seized today. His goats, which also live on the property, will not be taken.

Cochran can face up to 16 counts of animal neglect and/or a fine ranging from $10 to $100 for each count or jail time not to exceed 100 days per count. Neglect is a misdemeanor. Malicious cruelty is a felony and carries a fine of $10,000.

Columbus-Lowndes Humane Society Director Karen Johnwick said the local facility is not equipped for horses, nor do they have the financial means to care for the equines.

She said the Humane Society routinely receives call from people who have horses they can no longer properly care for but can’t give them away or sell them.

“Selling a horse is almost impossible,” she said.

It’s a situation becoming more common. The downturn of the economy has created a perfect storm for animal neglect and abuse, Lydia Sattler, state director of the U.S. Humane Society, said Tuesday.

People buy horses to breed, but without a steady income, they discover they can’t properly care for them and they can’t sell them, creating a no-win situation.

“You can go to an auction and pick up a horse for 20 bucks,” Sattler said. “People have grand illusions about owning a horse but have no idea what their care entails or the costs involved. You can’t just tie them by a dog leash to a tree in your front yard. They need to graze. People just don’t seem to be aware of the costs.”

Animal Control is relying strictly on volunteers to transport Cochran’s horses, mules and donkey. Because there is not an equine rescue center in Lowndes County, the horses will be taken to a facility in Tibbee until they can be placed in a healthy environment.

Sarah Fowler covered crime, education and community related events for The Dispatch.

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