Starved horses up for adoption

By LORI COPE | Country World East Texas

June 21, 2001 -- The 75 Arabian horses that were seized by the Camp County Sheriff's Department earlier this month will be up for adoption.

The horses were seized on June 4 following an investigation into a complaint that the horses were not being cared for. "All the animals were affected by starvation," noted Camp County Sheriff Alan McCandless.

Warrants have been issued for the two owners of the seized horses, William and Diane Wildforster, citing them with 60 counts of cruelty to animals each. The two were not present at a June 15 hearing which was held to determine what to do with the horses.

At the hearing, held in Justice of the Peace Ruth Morris' court, eight of the horses were allowed to be returned to their owner who had placed the horses at the Camp County property for stud service. Those horses' owner, Balika Arabians of Florida, proved ownership of the horses at the hearing.

Of the remaining horses, half were awarded to the Gregg County Humane Society and the other half were awarded to the Houston SPCA (about 33 horses to each group).

The horses awarded to the Houston SPCA will be moved to that area for adoption. The horses awarded to the Gregg County Humane Society will remain in Camp County, reported the sheriff, "so they can be adopted by the locals."

McCandless said an adoption date for the horses will be Saturday, June 23. The seized horses will carry an adoption fee of $400 each, and $500 a pair (mare and foal) or stallion.

Anyone interested in adopting one of the horses can go by the Camp County Sheriff's office in Pittsburg to pick up an application or contact the Gregg County Humane Society at 903-297-1631.