February 2007
According to the Humane Society of Washington County, Barbara Reinken, owner of the Sharpsburg farm where 74 ailing horses were seized on Dec. 2, surrendered herself to authorities on Dec. 22 in response to criminal charges filed against her. She was formally charged with 73 misdemeanor counts of abuse or neglect of animals and four felony counts of aggravated cruelty to animals. She has reportedly been released on bond.
At press time, the criminal trial was scheduled for 1 p.m. on Feb. 22 in Hagerstown.
Also on Dec. 22, the civil hearing involving a petition brought by Reinken for the return of all of her horses was reportedly given a continuance. The court date had not been established at this writing.
Of the 74 horses seized at the Sharpsburg property, one died en route to a veterinary facility and two have reportedly been eutha- nized. The 22 horses who were not sent to Days End Farm in Lisbon or to other private farms after their confiscation were relocated to another Washington County farm on Dec. 17. According to HSWC spokeswoman, the society will continue to care for them the new location.
“We are working very hard to make sure we do not lose any more horses,” stated Paul Miller, executive director of the HSWC. “It still too early to say definitely that the remaining horses are out of the danger, however.”
