Saturday, Sep. 20, 2008

Sisters plead innocent to neglecting animals at Finley ranch

By John Trumbo, Herald staff writer

FINLEY -- Two sisters who own two dozen horses, a bull and eight cows pleaded innocent Friday to charges of not providing essential care and not keeping their livestock fenced in.

But Benton County authorities who seized the animals nearly two months ago are eager to find someone to adopt the homeless horses and cows.

Bonnie Schwabrow, 47, of Finley, and Connie Lawyer of Oregon face misdemeanor criminal charges and have court-appointed attorneys. But they have hired another attorney to fight for custody of the horses, bull and cows, said Allison Hewitt, deputy prosecutor.

The county's bill for boarding and feeding the sisters' livestock has topped $15,000 since sheriff's deputies and some hired cowboys rounded up the herd July 31 from a pasture near Riek and Morton roads in Finley.

Sheriff's Capt. Steve Keane said it is costing about $10 a day per horse just to provide enough hay for the sisters' animals.

"It's costing us a fortune," Keane said.

Most of it is because of the high cost of hay, but there also have been veterinarian and farrier costs.

"It's all adding up, but we have a duty to care for them" he said.

Some citizens want to help, but Lt. Brian White said the county can't accept donations of hay or the offer of free pasture. People who want to help the horses and cows can give money instead.

In addition, Keane said each horse has to be health certified by having a blood test before being adopted out to ensure that it doesn't have equine infectious anemia.

Court records say county officials found little to no water and not enough hay to sustain the horses, cows and bull when they visited the property in Finley in July.