Today Pearl Marie Dunlap will be sentenced as a result of the decision made at her trial which began on January 30, 2014. The trial stemmed from a summons issued on March 22, 2013 for Cruelty to Animals.
Ms Dunlap was initially contacted on January 4, 2013 following a report that there was a mare and a foal in her care that appeared to be skinny. When the Deputy arrived several horses were noted to be on the property with no apparent feed. The Deputy was told that there would be a large bale of hay delivered to both pastures soon. A follow-up visit was made on January 6th, but the Deputy observed no indication that any hay had been delivered. Deputies received another call about a malnourished mare and its foal on January 24, 2013 and again responded to the location whereupon they talked to Ms Dunlap at some length and explained to her that the horses, boarded or not, were her responsibility.
Over the course of the next few days and following an inspection by both the Colorado Brand Board, Brand Inspector and the Colorado State Veterinarian’s Office it was determined that the four boarded horses would be removed as “abandoned horses” and one of Ms Dunlap’s horses would be taken to a veterinarian for assessment and determination of a final disposition.
The four boarded horses, including the foal, were taken by the Mountain Valley Horse Rescue, Eagle, CO. The fifth horse was deemed distressed and unsalvageable and subsequently euthanized.
On March 20, 2013 a Garfield County Deputy returned as a follow-up to assess the condition of the five remaining horses. One of the horses was emaciated and needed to be separated and fed, the other four were thin and there was no evidence of hay on the property. The Deputy returned with two bales of hay and spoke with Ms Dunlap. Ms Dunlap explained that hay would be delivered the very next day. The next day the returning Deputy saw no evidence of hay having been delivered or provided for the horses. On March 22, 2013, after numerous opportunities to feed and care for her horses, Ms Dunlap was issued a summons for cruelty to animals.
On January 31, 2013 following a two day trial in front of a jury Ms Dunlap was found guilty.
No further information will be released.
The mission of the Garfield County Sheriff’s Office is to provide solutions for the people by utilizing and employing strong morals, good character, untarnished integrity, technical knowledge and fiscal responsibility through professional, ethical and equitable conduct.
