Moscow, Idaho In response to several complaints about a horse named Popeye that belonged to one of its deputies’ families, the Latah County Sheriff’s Office released a statement.
The sheriff’s office claims that community members’ concerns spurred an official review. They stated that although deputies are in charge of criminal investigations, they depend on equestrian specialists to evaluate matters pertaining to animal welfare. In this instance, Popeye was brought in multiple times, most recently last month, to be examined by the Department of Agriculture’s Idaho State Veterinarian.
According to the State Veterinarian, Popeye was around 35 years old, which is a common age at which horses find it difficult to maintain a healthy weight. According to the study, Popeye showed no symptoms of depression or illness, including diarrhea, and seemed to be healthy and alert. Additionally, the veterinarian attested that the horse is still being cared for by a nearby veterinarian.
The State Veterinarian concluded that there was not enough proof of cruelty or neglect based on these assessments. When examining such allegations, the sheriff’s office stressed that it is subject to Idaho law.
The sheriff’s office reiterated its stance that professional evaluations inform its choices in animal welfare matters, even though it acknowledged that not all community members could be happy with this result.
