Pennsylvania Eden Equine Sanctuary has 3 horses removed after receiving complaints

Patches, the 17-year-old miniature horse taken by the ARL / photo- Eden Equine fb page

Three horses were removed from Eden Farm Equine Sanctuary by the Animal Rescue League of Berks County, Pennsylvania on Friday, April 24th.    Two horses in their 30’s and a miniature horse, Patches, (pictured) aged 17 were taken due to neglect as stated by the animal shelter.

Gayle Cooper who operates the sanctuary on Route 419, Womelsdorf, is clearly upset and heartbroken and has hired an attorney to get the horses returned to her according to the facebook page she runs for the sanctuary.

Trouble began in early 2020 when the Animal Rescue League investigated a complaint on March 9th and performed a wellness check at the sanctuary.     The animal control officer was only permitted to see two horses but wasn’t allowed to examine them per the probable cause affidavit,  according to Humane Officer Savannah Baller.

Baller also stated that Cooper had no current veterinarian contact to give her.    However, on the sanctuary facebook page, she recently took one of her dogs that the ARL wanted to remove to a veterinarian.     Other than an allergy causing an ear infection and being told the dog was overweight,  Cooper said, the dog passed the physical with flying colors.

Dahlia said to be 100 lbs underweight

photo Reading Eagle

The ARL’s probable cause affidavit listed an emaciated horse, Dahlia, was suffering and was 100 lbs. underweight according to veterinarian Dr. Christina Vittoria, Willow Creek Veterinary Center who examined her on March 17th.   Vittoria also said Cooper told her she was unable to afford to feed Dahlia the proper amount of food.   Cooper disputes the amount of food needed for Dahlia and that “too much food could kill her.”

(A probable cause affadavit is a sworn statment, typically made by a police officer, that outlines the factual justification for why a judge should consent to an arrest or search warrant or why an arrest made during a crime-in-progress was based on solid evidence…)

(Interestingly enough, Dahlia was given to the sanctuary by the Animal Rescue League “when a farm in Berks County where some dead horses were discovered in a secluded pasture.   One additional horse had to be euthanized…    Three, including Dahlia, were removed from the site and placed on a foster farm.”    This information can be found on the sanctuary’s website.)

According to the ARL, they received a cruelty complaint from Ryan Hamilton who volunteered in late February.   Hamilton was concerned three elderly horses were suffering.

The affidavit also states that Hamilton made the following observations:  “an overpowering ammonia smell coming from the home due to what Cooper had described as having 14 cats and 6 dogs inside the home.   The ammonia has caused the floorboards in the home to rot/wilt from being damp for so long.”

Hamilton was concerned the cats and dogs were malnourished and not well kept.   (The dog who was taken to the vet by Cooper was found to be obese, not malnourished.)

Hamilton has also made claims that a vacuum was used on the sores of Dahlia.   He said this caused injuries to the horse.

Former volunteers have said Cooper told them she couldn’t handle taking care of the animals alone.     She called the ARL earlier this year asking if they had any volunteers to help her citing her volunteers were ill as was she.    Cooper has suffered from medical issues in recent years.

At a subsequent follow up check on April 14th, the ARL humane officer found the house to be in disarray says Cooper.   She said that “my house was a mess, there were piles of laundry everywhere and the cats had peed on the floor.”

After the seizing of the gelding, mare and miniature horse on April 24th,  the ARL allowed 2 turkeys, 1 pig, 4 ducks, 10 chickens and 4 roosters to remain in Cooper’s possession but they will require another follow-up visit.

Cooper has a GoFundMe page to raise funds for her legal defense to get her animals returned to her sanctuary.    She also says many people have shown support for her case including other rescues.

During this coronavirus pandemic, many non-profits including animal rescues have been hurt by the decline in donations as all of us struggle to get through this unprecedented time in history.   I think more animal rescues will suffer as a result.    The ARL recently laid off 20% of its staff because of the current economy.

Cooper is determined to get her horses back.    The ARL has not stated if they plan to charge Cooper with any offenses.

Tina Evangelista-Eppenstein is a television talk show host, speaker, writer, and an unabashed animal advocate. Her love for animals and quest for the hard truth is what drives her passion for all things animals. She hosts the television show, “A Close Up Look at Animal Welfare Issues.” She adores her tripawd, Brody, who was a formerly abused pup who lost his leg because of cruelty inflicted upon him. If you’d like Tina to talk to your group or have a story, please email her at tevangelistaepp@yahoo.com. Like https:www.facebook.com/ACloseUpLookatAnimalWelfareIssues and be sure to check out AnimalWelfareIssues.com.