Horse Neglect Draws Bread-and-Water Sentance - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

Averett · 06-09-2004, 05:28 AM

Quote:

Horse neglect draws bread-and-water sentence

Texas woman to spend 3 of 30 days in jail with ‘dietary restrictions’
MSNBC staff and news service reports
Updated: 1:08 p.m.
ET June 08, 2004

A Texas woman convicted of neglecting two horses in her care has been sentenced to serve 30 days in jail — the first three of which will be spent with a diet of only bread and water, a judge said Tuesday.

In imposing the unusual sentence with "dietary restrictions" on Melissa Dawn Sweeney on Monday, Harris County Criminal Court at Law Judge Mike Peters was quoted by the Houston Chronicle as saying, "She's going to get more than her horses got."

The judge on Tuesday confirmed that he also required Sweeney to post blown-up photographs of the malnourished and ailing horses on her jail cell wall. “I want her to be forever reminded of what her conduct did to those horses,” he told Reuters.

Peters allowed the 28-year-old Sweeney to serve her 30 days on weekends so she can care for her three children.

Judge says punishment fits crime
Peters defended the punishment as appropriate to the crime.

“I used to think back to the time when jail was jail and punishment was punishment, and how they were put in solitary confinement with only bread and water to eat. That was in the back of my mind,” he told Reuters.

Sweeney of Baytown, about 40 miles east of Houston, was convicted Friday of two counts of cruelty to animals after the two horses were found in poor condition in a muddy, trash-strewn lot behind her trailer home. She could have been sentenced to up to two years in jail.

Sweeney, a former stable worker, was accused of leaving the two horses unfed and unsheltered in the back of her Baytown property for more than four months.

When the animals were found in late January, they were emaciated, had intestinal infections and a skin condition known as "rain rot," prosecutors said.

Quote:

Live Vote
Did the judge go too far with his punishment for horse abuse? * 12678 responses

Yes
4%

No
94%

Not sure
1%

Not a scientifically valid survey. Click to learn more.

One of the horses had abscesses on his hooves that made it difficult to stand.

"He was just swaying back and forth in pain because he didn't want to put any weight on either foot," the Chronicle quoted Assistant District Attorney Tacie Ball as saying after the three-day trial.

The Chronicle reported it was unable to reach either Sweeney or her attorney, Tom Niederhofer, for comment. But during her trial, Sweeney testified that she fed the animals about 28 pounds of food a day and attributed their condition to advanced age. The horses were in their mid-20s. Healthy horses can live into their early 30s.

Reuters contributed to this report.

I think this is great. I cannot stand animal abuse. You can't afford to feed your animals? SELL THEM! GIVE THEM AWAY! Somebody else would love to have them.

Personally though... Give the woman 30 days instead of 3 with bread and water. Not like it will matter, shes only serving on weekends. I have a problem with that too. Yeah, she's got kids... So ship them off to grandma or auntie for a month.

What do you guys think of the punishment?

Bill O'Rights · 06-09-2004, 05:45 AM

Well, like it or not, and I don't, the state of Texas is responsible for this woman's health and well being while she is "under their care". A diet consisting of nothing more than bread and water for 30 days, appropriate as it may be, would be detrimental to her health. Yeah, yeah...I know...so what. Still.

As far as serving her 30 day sentence only on weekends...oh yeah, I cry foul on that. you pull 30 days...you serve 30 days. In a row!!

manalone · 06-09-2004, 05:56 AM

I wonder could she appeal it under cruel and unusual?
She likely wont because of the non-consecutive sentence in any case.

choskins · 06-09-2004, 06:05 AM

Why would she appeal it? The alternative is serving 2 years. I think it is great.

miggity99 · 06-09-2004, 06:22 AM

I think this is awesome. It's about time they bring back the old punishments. Maybe folks will stop screwing around.

She should be happy she only has to serve on the weekends. Hell, she can have her bread and water then go out for a steak on Monday.

H12 · 06-09-2004, 07:29 AM

Interesting. I'm glad this kind of punishment is brought back for one case, but if this kind of punishment doesn't become more regular, then I don't want to hear another story like it; it's not fair to treat some people harsher than others for the same crime, animal abuse or not.

StormBerlin · 06-09-2004, 07:33 AM

She deserves every bit of it. Even if the bread and water is only for a few days, she will still feel the twinge of hunger that her horses felt (only on a much grater scale). I don't condone the mistreatment of animals. All they want to do is please you, and they don't have a malicious bone in their body. Especially horses, they are intelligent, trustworthy, loyal and beautiful animals. I hope they get better really quick

lurkette · 06-09-2004, 07:43 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bill O'Rights
A diet consisting of nothing more than bread and water for 30 days, appropriate as it may be, would be detrimental to her health.

Actually, it's only 3 days. I've done a 3-day fast and it's not a big deal. Certainly not as big a deal as having abscesses on your feet so you can't stand

I think she deserves every bit and probably more. You know, cruelty to humans I can understand. Most of us are assholes, and most of us have choices, agency, the ability to protect ourselves. Animals are largely dependent on the good will and responsible stewardship of humans for their well-being, and there's no excuse for falling down on that responsibility. Shame on her.

choskins · 06-09-2004, 08:27 AM

Hell, people do diets voluntarily that are much more severe than bread and water for three days.

MSD · 06-09-2004, 09:10 AM

Can we get some creative sentencing for child neglect now? Maybe lock people in closets in jail and slide a sandwich through once or twice a week? I don't always believe in an eye for an eye, but some people get off too easy.

Averett · 06-09-2004, 09:20 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by MrSelfDestruct
Can we get some creative sentencing for child neglect now? Maybe lock people in closets in jail and slide a sandwich through once or twice a week? I don't always believe in an eye for an eye, but some people get off too easy.

I like your thinking

Skettios · 06-09-2004, 09:29 AM

I expect a little bit more compassion from the TFP.

I'd be willing to bet this woman is a single mom, who probably having trouble feeding her kids, let alone two horses. When you're doing everything yourself, it's easy to let things slip out of control. It's unfortunate that these horses had to suffer, but it's even more unfortunate that we live in a society where people don't help each other out, we simply punish failure.

Averett says in an earlier post that "You can't afford to feed your animals? SELL THEM! GIVE THEM AWAY! Somebody else would love to have them."

Well no offense, but have you been to an animal shelter lately? It's not exactly the scenario that you describe.

Averett · 06-09-2004, 09:33 AM

This isn't failure, it's stupidity.

I'm sorry, but I have no compassion for her. None at all.

I realize that animal shelters aren't exactly the ideal place for animals. But she should have called up the ASPCA once she realized that she could not take care of her animals. They would have helped her out. Thats what the organization is for.

Horses are expensive animals to have. People sometimes do not realize this going in. They think they can just buy a horse and turn it out in a field and not worry about any other feed. That's just not how it goes.

And I call bullshit on her claim of feeding them 28 lbs of food daily and that their condition was due to age. As the article states horses can live well into their 30's with proper care.

Peryn · 06-09-2004, 10:58 AM

This sentance is total bullshit, imo. Why in the world does she get to only serve weekends? Im sure there are plenty of other convicts that would give body parts (important ones, too) to be able to do that. And for what? She has kids? Im sure she's not the first mother to be convicted, and sentanced to jail time.

As for being compassionate that she couldn't afford them, and things slipped out of control. Yeah, maybe. Maybe she forgot to feed them one day. Maybe two. Hell, im feeling good, maybe she forgot to feed them for an entire week.

Quote:

...leaving the two horses unfed and unsheltered in the back of her Baytown property for more than four months. ...

Im sorry, 4 months is just unacceptable, and unbelievable that she couldn't have done anything about it.

Skettios · 06-09-2004, 02:20 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Averett
This isn't failure, it's stupidity.

I'm sorry, but I have no compassion for her. None at all.

So let's round up all of the stupid people, and put them in jail.

Stupidity 0 Civilization 1

Yeah, that will solve everything. While we are at it, let's get the poor, depressed, retarded, and insane.

Hrothgar · 06-09-2004, 03:31 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Skettios

I'd be willing to bet this woman is a single mom, who probably having trouble feeding her kids, let alone two horses.

Well no offense, but have you been to an animal shelter lately? It's not exactly the scenario that you describe.

Well then you prioritize. You cant't care for 2 kids and 2 horses then you find a way to get rid of the horses.

No offense but I'm sure the horses would have preferred a shelter rather then spending 4 months without proper food or shelter that contributed to a myriad of their ailments.

Munku · 06-09-2004, 03:51 PM

Horses are expensive animals, and I know for sure that if she gave them away free, instead of neglecting them, they'd have found a nice home.

skier · 06-09-2004, 04:43 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by choskins
Hell, people do diets voluntarily that are much more severe than bread and water for three days.

absolutley. I don't feel this woman will grasp the suffering her horses went through. 3 days without food is nothing, let alone bread every day.

H12 · 06-09-2004, 08:03 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by choskins
Hell, people do diets voluntarily that are much more severe than bread and water for three days.

Good point, but it's better than nothing. I wish that she had to serve this sentence either all at once or one week at a time, so she could catch a grasp of what pain she dealt.

06-09-2004, 05:45 AM	#2 (permalink)
Bill O'Rights will always be an Alyson Hanniganite Location: In the dust of the archives	Well, like it or not, and I don't, the state of Texas is responsible for this woman's health and well being while she is "under their care". A diet consisting of nothing more than bread and water for 30 days, appropriate as it may be, would be detrimental to her health. Yeah, yeah...I know...so what. Still. As far as serving her 30 day sentence only on weekends...oh yeah, I cry foul on that. you pull 30 days...you serve 30 days. In a row!! __________________ "I distrust those people who know so well what God wants them to do because I notice it always coincides with their own desires." - Susan B. Anthony "Hedonism with rules isn't hedonism at all, it's the Republican party." - JumpinJesus It is indisputable that true beauty lies within...but a nice rack sure doesn't hurt.

06-09-2004, 05:56 AM	#3 (permalink)
manalone Once upon a time...	I wonder could she appeal it under cruel and unusual? She likely wont because of the non-consecutive sentence in any case. __________________ -- Man Alone ======= Abstainer: a weak person who yields to the temptation of denying himself a pleasure. Ambrose Bierce, The Devil's Dictionary.

06-09-2004, 06:05 AM	#4 (permalink)
choskins Psycho Location: Greenville, SC	Why would she appeal it? The alternative is serving 2 years. I think it is great. __________________ "Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar." - Sigmund Freud

06-09-2004, 07:29 AM	#6 (permalink)
H12 I'm not about getting creamed, I'm about winning! Location: K-Town, TN	Interesting. I'm glad this kind of punishment is brought back for one case, but if this kind of punishment doesn't become more regular, then I don't want to hear another story like it; it's not fair to treat some people harsher than others for the same crime, animal abuse or not. __________________ "We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, therefore, is not an act, but a habit." --Aristotle

06-09-2004, 07:33 AM	#7 (permalink)
StormBerlin Happy as a hippo Location: Southern California	She deserves every bit of it. Even if the bread and water is only for a few days, she will still feel the twinge of hunger that her horses felt (only on a much grater scale). I don't condone the mistreatment of animals. All they want to do is please you, and they don't have a malicious bone in their body. Especially horses, they are intelligent, trustworthy, loyal and beautiful animals. I hope they get better really quick __________________ "if anal sex could get a girl pregnant i'd be tits deep in child support" Arcane

06-09-2004, 06:22 AM	#5 (permalink)
miggity99 Tilted Location: Starkvegas	I think this is awesome. It's about time they bring back the old punishments. Maybe folks will stop screwing around. She should be happy she only has to serve on the weekends. Hell, she can have her bread and water then go out for a steak on Monday.

06-09-2004, 08:27 AM	#9 (permalink)
choskins Psycho Location: Greenville, SC	Hell, people do diets voluntarily that are much more severe than bread and water for three days. __________________ "Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar." - Sigmund Freud

06-09-2004, 09:10 AM	#10 (permalink)
MSD The sky calls to us ... Super Moderator Location: CT	Can we get some creative sentencing for child neglect now? Maybe lock people in closets in jail and slide a sandwich through once or twice a week? I don't always believe in an eye for an eye, but some people get off too easy.

06-09-2004, 09:29 AM	#12 (permalink)
Skettios Condition: Stable and Improving Location: Finger on the little red button.	I expect a little bit more compassion from the TFP. I'd be willing to bet this woman is a single mom, who probably having trouble feeding her kids, let alone two horses. When you're doing everything yourself, it's easy to let things slip out of control. It's unfortunate that these horses had to suffer, but it's even more unfortunate that we live in a society where people don't help each other out, we simply punish failure. Averett says in an earlier post that "You can't afford to feed your animals? SELL THEM! GIVE THEM AWAY! Somebody else would love to have them." Well no offense, but have you been to an animal shelter lately? It's not exactly the scenario that you describe. __________________ Convictions are more dangerous enemies of truth than lies. Frederich Nietzsche

06-09-2004, 09:33 AM	#13 (permalink)
Averett Is In Love Location: I'm workin' on it	This isn't failure, it's stupidity. I'm sorry, but I have no compassion for her. None at all. I realize that animal shelters aren't exactly the ideal place for animals. But she should have called up the ASPCA once she realized that she could not take care of her animals. They would have helped her out. Thats what the organization is for. Horses are expensive animals to have. People sometimes do not realize this going in. They think they can just buy a horse and turn it out in a field and not worry about any other feed. That's just not how it goes. And I call bullshit on her claim of feeding them 28 lbs of food daily and that their condition was due to age. As the article states horses can live well into their 30's with proper care. __________________ Absence is to love what wind is to fire. It extinguishes the small, it enkindles the great.

06-09-2004, 03:51 PM	#17 (permalink)
Munku Lost Location: Florida	Horses are expensive animals, and I know for sure that if she gave them away free, instead of neglecting them, they'd have found a nice home.