A 43-year-old Vermillion Township woman was charged by summons in Dakota County Court last week with felony charges after a horse was seized from her property and had to be euthanized.
Kelly Ann Ries was charged with one count of mistreatment of animals and one count of mistreatment of animals (torture or cruelty to pet or companion) (death or great bodily harm). Each charge carries a maximum penalty of two years incarceration and a fine of up to $5,000.
According to the complaint, the Dakota County Sheriff’s Office received a complaint June 4 from a concerned citizen who reported a horse down on the property outside its enclosure in the 17000 block of Emery Avenue. “The citizen observed the horse had overgrown hooves and was concerned it was being neglected. The deputy observed the same in the horse, which had difficulty walking and appeared to be in pain,” the complaint states.
The deputy contacted an Animal Humane Society investigator who provided reports that humane investigators had made numeral visits to the property to address neglect concerns about the horse, who was named Hazel.
Ries reportedly told investigators “she felt the horse was in her last days because she was 27 years old,” according to the complaint, and she thought treatment of the hooves would be “too traumatic” for the horse. She reportedly had been told to euthanize Hazel in 2021 or 2022 but didn’t agree with that opinion. An investigator photographed the horse.
“The pictures were sent to a humane agent, who described the state of Hazel’s hooves as being the top ten worst she’d ever seen and that it appeared Hazel could otherwise potentially live another five years,” the complaint states.
A search warrant was obtained, and an investigator and veterinarian went to the property and noted that both of Hazel’s front hooves were elongated and curled and hadn’t been trimmed in years, causing sores that made it painful for Hazel to walk. Hazel was seized and brought to an equine veterinary clinic where a thorough investigation was conducted that documented Hazel’s condition.
“Hazel was euthanized after the veterinarian recommended it because her prognosis was guarded even with aggressive treatment,” the complaint states.