Earlier this week, Lara Marie Gosbee of Rocky Ridge in Frederick County was charged with eight counts of animal cruelty and eight additional counts of animal cruelty, failure to provide nutritious food in sufficient quantities.
On April 12, Frederick County Animal Control officials were called to Mist Dreams Farm after receiving several complaints about dead horses being on the property. At the time, Gosbee told officials that she had intended to compost the horses but had not found the time. She later complied with officials and did compost the dead horses. The farm is owned by Gosbee’s mother Valerie Pickett.
Gosbee surrendered the 12 living horses that were on the farm. These horses were taken to Days End Farm in Howard County and have been receiving rehabilitation care ever since arriving. According to Days End, two of the horses died shortly after arrival and an unborn foal died before birth. Two more foals were born at Days End. Caroline Robertson, development director at Day End, told the Frederick News Post that all surviving horses are out of rehabilitation and will soon be available for adoption.
Gosbee is scheduled to appear at the Frederick County District Court on October 2. Each of the 16 misdemeanor counts carries a penalty of up to 90 days in jail and up to $1,000 in fines.
