How Cumberland County supported an abused foal needing $20,000 in care
A fractured vertebrae, pneumonia and an injured leg muscle were just some of the injuries afflicting a 3-month-old foal named Faith when Cumberland County Animal Services officers seized her from a Cedar Creek horse farm in August, according to the department’s Facebook page. Two months later, the Cumberland County Board of Commissioners has set aside money for Faith's and other animals' future care after her medical bills drained Animal Services' budget.
Faith was one of seven horses taken from Witts End Quarter Horses in the 4800 block of Enniskillen Road on Aug. 21 after a video circulated on social media of the young horse being dragged by a vehicle, beaten and sprayed with a water hose. Five foals ranging from 2 to 5 months old and two nursing mares were removed by Animal Services officers.
Austin Wayne Simpson, 24, of Hope Mills, and Kylie Lenore Parker, 25, of Fayetteville, were arrested Sept. 28 on charges of cruelty to animals and felony conspiracy, the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office said.
According to an Oct. 11 post on the Animal Services Facebook page, Faith was transferred to Foundation Equine Clinic in Vass on Aug. 23 with her mother due to the severity of her injuries
“The expenses for her care have exceeded $20,000 and are ongoing,” the department wrote. “The (Cumberland County Animal Services) Medical Fund is being used to pay those expenses and is designed to provide necessary care for animals in need like Faith.”
The post solicited donations to the medical fund, stating it had been almost depleted by the costs of Faith’s medical care. On Monday, the Cumberland County Board of Commissioners approved adding $24,126 to the fund to help with those costs.
'She deserves a chance'
The funds came from the Injured Animal Fund, which the county allocates money to each year as part of its budget process to support injured animals under Animal Services’ care, according to county spokesperson Brian Haney.
According to the county’s budget for fiscal year 2024, which began on July 1, the Injured Animal Fund started off with $10,000.
In a video posted to the Foundation Equine Clinic Facebook page on Oct. 14, staff caring for Faith said that she arrived at their facilities with a severed tricep muscle, a piece of bone broken off her humerus, a crooked pelvis stemming from a fractured vertebra in her lower back and severe pneumonia “from the water that had been forced into her mouth and nose.” The young horse was also suffering from a worm infestation, according to the video.
The video reports that Faith’s care plan included bandaging and splinting her injured leg every other day for 6 weeks and special shoes to help her bear weight on that leg.
“Faith still has a long journey ahead, but she is sweet, and brave, and strong, and she deserves a chance!” a caption in the video states.
Cumberland County Animal Services said in an Oct. 12 Facebook comment that the department plans to request restitution if Simpson and Parker are found guilty.
Donations to the Cumberland County Animal Services Animal Medical Fund can be made by mailing a check to Cumberland County Animal Services, 4704 Corporation Drive, Fayetteville, NC 28306. Donations can also be made in person at the same address or over the phone with a credit card by calling 910-321-6852.
Got a tip for a follow-up on this story? Government watchdog reporter Lexi Solomon can be reached at ABSolomon@gannett.com or 910-481-8526.
This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: Cumberland County gives Animal Services more money after horse abuse
