Woman Charged With Animal Cruelty After Removal of Dead Horse

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Officials with the Kitsap County Health District obtained a court order before removing a dead horse from a shed in the 6800 block of Phillips Road in South Kitsap.

The woman who owned the property was arrested July 28 on suspicion of first-degree animal cruelty after Kitsap County sheriff's deputies found the dead horse, two other malnourished horses and four emaciated dogs on the property.

Kitsap County Animal Control officers removed the living animals for treatment but could not deal with the dead horse, said Jan Brower, hazardous-waste manager for the health district. Neighbors complained that the dead horse was decomposing and creating a terrible odor.

The health district officially notified the woman of the health violations and demanded that she deal with the problem. When she failed to act, the health district obtained a court order Wednesday granting access to the property. A rendering contractor removed the dead animal on Thursday.

Brower said the woman would be billed the cost of the action — including court costs. The total would be about $1,000, Brower said. The woman was released shortly after her arrest pending possible charges.