Officials seize vet's 18 horses

Gilbert anticipates filing criminal charges in case

By Alex Bridges - abridges@nvdaily.com

WINCHESTER -- Authorities seized nearly 20 horses last week from a veterinarian's foreclosed home in southern Frederick County.

An animal control officer responded to 2121 S. Pifer Road, Star Tannery, on Aug. 16 after receiving calls about horses possibly not receiving proper care, according to court documents. Deputy Megan Moreland, with the Frederick County Sheriff's Office, filed a motion in General District Court three days later to seize 18 horses, including foals.

Court documents indicate Gwendolyn J. Pfouts lives at the property or has some involvement with it. Pfouts currently holds a Virginia veterinary license that expires Dec. 31, according to records with the Department of Health Professions. Pfouts lists Culpeper as her address of record.

County records show a South Carolina bank owns the 43-acre property.

Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney Todd Gilbert said Wednesday the Sheriff's Office has seized all horses found on the property. Some of the animals are being kept on the property while others were taken to another location, according to Gilbert. He did not know where those animals were being kept.

"The main reason the seizure is to take place is to protect the well-being of the animals," Gilbert said.

The prosecutor said he anticipates criminal charges will be filed in the case.

At a hearing Tuesday in General District Court, Judge David S. Whitacre granted a motion by Pfouts' attorney, David Bean, of Strasburg, to dismiss the seizure order. Bean also filed a motion asking the court to grant a temporary restraining order to keep authorities from taking more horses off the property. Whitacre said he had no authority to rule either way on that request.

Moreland subsequently filed a second seizure order request that is set for a hearing in General District Court on Sept. 2. Bean sought to have the court keep the horses in place until the new hearing.

Bean then brought his motion for a restraining order before Judge John Prosser in Frederick County Circuit Court on Wednesday. The attorney told Prosser the initial seizure order was not filed correctly. The judge denied Bean's motion.

Capt. Aleck Beeman, of the Sheriff's Office, said animal control officers and a veterinarian examined the horses, after which law enforcement filed the seizure notice. Deputies took mares, including one about to give birth, Beeman said.

"With the issue of not getting enough food, we were afraid they were going to hurt the smaller horses," Beeman said. "When they get fighting over food and water we didn't want them getting hurt."

By the time Pfouts had found a home for the horses, authorities began taking the animals, Bean said Wednesday.

In his motion, Bean states that Pfouts, identified as the owner of the animals, "cared for and appropriately kept at the property 18 horses of various ages and sex." Pfouts moved from Star Tannery to "another location one month ago," according to the motion.

"After the property was foreclosed upon, [Pfouts] left her horses temporarily ... until she could find a suitable place for them which she has now done," Bean states.

The Sheriff's Office issued the seizure order and began taking horses from the property "against the wishes of Mrs. Pfouts," according to Bean. The horses at the home are being care for by the Sheriff's Office and Pfouts, Bean adds.