Margaret Peterson

Say hi to the latest addition to my case watch list: Margaret Peterson. Story

A Sultan woman accused of mistreating a herd of horses has spent 30 years caring for animals and her heart is full of love for them, her husband said.

She's a self-proclaimed rescuer in my book. They all say that and yet, they don't care enough to give them proper care. If they can't afford to care for the horses, euthanize them or sell them. It's kinder than starving them to death.

“I really have a problem with people coming in and charging someone for having sick horses,” he said. “They make it seem like a state of neglect, but it’s not.”

Not providing veterinary care is neglect. So is not providing proper food, water, and shelter. If a horse is emaciated, then you're either not feeding them or there's something very wrong. "Because he's sick" is not a good excuse.

“They came in here locked and loaded and basically said, ‘We’re going to take you to jail if you don’t let us take this horse,’” Ryan Peterson said, recounting the conversation officers had with his wife. “She was scared.”

But apparently not scared into taking proper care of her animals so they wouldn't have to come back.

During one visit, an officer said none of the horses had water. As the officer watered the horses, the animals were so thirsty, they fought each other to get to the water barrels, the court document said.

One mare was on her side, with green mucus draining from her nostrils and covering her legs, Davis wrote.

That's not healthy or proper care. The horses need water and the mare needs a vet right now.

He said his wife had taken some of the horse on as rescue animals and was breeding others for sale.

1. Self-proclaimed rescuer. She takes in horses thinking she's doing the right thing and finds herself in way over her head when she can't take care of them all.

2. When royally bred throughbreds aren't selling, you PANIC. You do not go out and breed more third-rate, grade horses unless you want them to end up in Mexico.

She's in jail now on $5,000 bail.