Seventh horse dies in starvation case

The Daily Inter Lake

One of the two surviving horses who suffered extreme malnourishment while in possession of Tina Pickton had to be euthanized Friday.

The 32-year-old Columbia Falls woman was arrested in February and charged with the starvation deaths of six other horses while they were pastured along Bayou Road, near the Presentine Bar fishing access.

Two more horses were found severely malnourished. They were rescued that day and have been in the care of veterinarians at LaSalle Equine Clinic since then.

Sheriff Mike Meehan said the veterinarian contacted the sheriff's office Friday afternoon to let them know of the horse's condition. Meehan said it had a sore on its leg that would not heal, and the infection had worked its way to the bone despite efforts to treat it.

The wound was severe enough to destroy the horse's quality of life, the veterinarian reported. The decision was made to put the horse down, Meehan said.

Meehan said the veterinarian determined the wound was caused by the horse's extreme malnourishment. Information on the case was forwarded to the county attorney's office, which will decide whether to charge Pickton with another count of aggravated animal cruelty.

Pickton pled not guilty on March 1 to six felony counts of aggravated animal cruelty. She is free on $20,000 bond.

Her next court appearance is an omnibus hearing on May 16, with a pre-trial hearing scheduled for May 23. If found guilty, she faces two years in jail, a $2,500 fine, or both.