Humane Society takes animals from New Paris farm

By TOM MOOR
Tribune Staff Writer

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Humane Society takes animals from New Paris farm

The Humane Society recovered six dogs, eight cats and five horses from New Hope Farms Inc. on County Road 19 in New Paris, seen here in a 2005 file photo.
(Tribune File Photo)

By SBT 24/7 News

Story Created: Feb 18, 2009 at 3:54 AM EST

Story Updated: Feb 18, 2009 at 8:14 AM EST

NEW PARIS — The Elkhart County Humane Society rescued 19 animals recently from an animal rescue farm where two dogs and a horse have died, officials say.

The Humane Society recovered six dogs, eight cats and five horses that were being “neglected of food and proper water” at New Hope Farms Inc. on County Road 19, according to a police report.

Anne Reel, Humane Society director, said the animals have been abandoned on the farm. The Humane Society, she said, had received “a couple of complaints,” which is why the organization went to the farm, described as a rescue organization for horses.

The owners of the animal farm have not been present, said Reel, who added there are other people at the farm but they have nothing to do with the shelter, just south of Goshen.

Reel said a news release will be sent out today with more details about the case, which she noted will be sent to the Elkhart County prosecutor’s office by today.

Reel said Humane Society workers might still return to the farm at 68594 County Road 19 because there “may be some chickens and additional cats in the barn.”

The horse died almost two months ago, and its owner filed a police report with the Elkhart County Sheriff’s Department. The owner was unavailable for comment.

The Indiana State Board of Animal Health investigated the case, according to a media official for the agency. A message left at that organization was not returned Tuesday.

The dogs had likely been dead for a few weeks, Reel said, and a veterinarian was called in Monday to review the carcasses.

Authorities are trying to determine ownership of the horses and whether anyone owned the dogs and cats there.

The farm was opened in 2004 by six people to nurture abused or neglected horses, according to past Tribune articles. At the time of a February 2005 article, 18 horses were staying there.

It is unclear where the six men are now, although Reel said the animal rescue portion of the farm has been abandoned.

Monthly expenses for the farm reached up to $2,000 in food, veterinarian bills and housing, which sparked fundraisers in 2005, according to Tribune archives.

New Hope Farm received more media attention in 2005 when the six men tried to nurse an abused horse, Amber, back to health. Amber died after three weeks of care.

Even with People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals backing the case, the Elkhart County prosecutor’s office did not file charges against the owners of the horse before it was adopted by New Hope Farm.

Staff writer Tom Moor:
tmoor@sbtinfo.com
(574) 247-7756

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