Horses found without food, water; two charged in animal cruelty case

Two people in Florence are facing animal cruelty charges after three horses were found malnourished on their property.

Florence Police Department Animal Control was called to the 1000 block of East 3rd Street on April 6, 2015. Someone reported three horses that were very thin and did not appear to have food or water. Officers requested the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office to help in the investigation.

The owners were identifed as Michelle and Eric Joiner of Florence.

Detectives spoke with Michelle Joiner by phone. She told detectives she and her husband knew the horses were thin and they were currently under vet care. She told detectives they were working with the vet but were not able to keep weight on the horses.

A short time later, a City of Florence water truck filled the water trough and the Sheriff’s Office provided feed for the horses.

The Joiner’s were given 48 hours to make an appointment with a vet for the horses and a detective had to be present. She agreed.

The next day, Michelle Joiner called detectives saying one of the horses fell and could not get up. A local vet was also called. Due to the age, body condition and poor health of the horse, it was humanely euthanized on scene.

The Joiner’s then agreed to turn one of the remaining horses back over to its original owner. They also relinquished the final horse over to the Colorado State Humane Society.

It was later determined that none of the three horses were under any vet care as the Joiner’s claimed.

On April 15, 2015, the Joiner’s turned themselves in tot he Fremont County Jail on outstanding warrants on Aggravated Animal Cruelty and Animal Cruelty charges.