Animal abuse case was reported before

A Somerton man arrested Monday for neglecting horses and other livestock was reported by a neighbor at least two months ago, but animal control officials say they visited then and had every reason to think the abuse had ended.

Officials with the Humane Society of Yuma also said that a lack of further complaints and limited staffing kept their officers from making follow-up visits to Matthew Ashby's property.

"We went out there, notified the owner of our concerns and there was proof he was in the beginning stages of treatment, giving feed and some medication," said Annette Lagunas, director of operations for HSOY's animal shelter. "We closed the case then. He appeared to be trying at that point."

The woman who reported Ashby, neighbor Bobbie Kessler, said she couldn't understand why authorities didn't take action against Ashby when the alleged abuse was first seen.

"I am outraged," Kessler said. "This should never have happened. Those horses could have been saved two months ago."

Meanwhile the humane society and Yuma County Sheriff's Office both say that neither is perfectly equipped to handle reports of livestock abuse, which both entities say is on the rise.

Ashby was arrested Mo day on suspicion of severe malnutrition of five horses, two burros and a steer. One horse suffered from such advanced malnutrition that a veterinarian euthanized the animal immediately, according to the sheriff's office. A newly born foal from that horse was also dead.

Ashby has been charged with two counts of felony cruelty to animals, plus misdemeanor charges are expected from the U.S. Bureau of Land Management. Ashby had adopted three wild mustang horses and a burro through a BLM program. Those particular animals are now being cared for by Triple R Ranch, a new nonprofit program that rescues horses and other livestock.

A horse, burro and steer remain on Ashby's property and were not confiscated, according to Capt. Eben Bratcher, sheriff's office spokesman.

The animals were left in the owner's care based on the decision of a state livestock inspector, Bratcher said, adding that prior to being arrested, Ashby appeared to be feeding his animals again.

"The state livestock office is going to be watching very, very closely, as well as our own monitoring to make sure that the animals are taken care of and fed properly," said Bratcher.

Ashby lives in the 14600 block of South Avenue A-1/2. Yuma Regional Medical Center confirmed Tuesday that Ashby is employed at the hospital. Numerous phone calls and e-mails to The Sun have stated that Ashby works as a nurse.

Kessler, the concerned neighbor, said Ashby's animals were without water or shade and were standing in water when she reported him two months ago.

The recent increase in reports of livestock abuse presents a major challenge for agencies that admit they aren't as prepared as they would like to be for these cases. Bratcher stressed that the sheriff's office is a law enforcement agency accustomed to dealing with humans, while HSOY's Lagunas said Yuma's animal shelter is simply built more around care for dogs and cats.

"But the humane society isn't going to let any animal suffer," Lagunas stressed, adding that HSOY calls on local livestock experts for help when needed. "We also have a great partnership with the sheriff's department, which has been able to come out and assist us on other livestock cases."

Bratcher and Lagunas pointed to a second challenge, the fact that Yuma no longer has its own state livestock inspector. The nearest such official, who has the power to seize animals, works out of Phoenix.

"This is kind of a new field for us to deal in," Bratcher said.

He said reports of livestock abuse are rising for another reason, too.

"I think we're also just getting more calls from the public. There has been a real focus on animal cruelty in the media. I think public perception has swayed, and not taking care of animals is not something people overlook anymore."