1/15/14 - An investigation is underway into the cause of death for a horse that was found on the property of a local woman who has been accused of animal cruelty in the past. The incident occurred over the weekend on the property of 71-year-old Velva Jean Wainscott. Livingston County Animal Control Director Debbie Oberle says a 911 call came in on Sunday for a possible dead horse on the property. She says the body was found lying on its paddock, and it was removed so its death can be investigated. She says the animal was about 16 years old, which is roughly middle-aged for a horse, but it is unclear if it had any preexisting conditions that may have contributed to the death. Because all of the other horses were in good condition, they were not removed from the property. Wainscott's horses were previously seized by Animal Control in November of 2012 (pictured here) after she was accused of abandoning or cruelty to 10 or more horses. Those charges were dismissed with prejudice and the animals were returned. Oberle says Wainscott was very cooperative while her department retrieved the dead horse this weekend. A necropsy, which is the animal equivalent of an autopsy, will be performed on the animal at Michigan State University. (TD)
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