Underfed Horses Rescued, Owner Charged

A SUMNER MAN HAS BEEN ARRESTED FOR ALLEGEDLY NEGLECTING NUMEROUS HORSES ON HIS PROPERTY.

ACCORDING TO THE BREMER COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE, THEY RECEIVED A REPORT BACK IN NOVEMBER, THAT THERE WERE 30 TO 40 HEAD OF HORSES ON A FARM IN RURAL SUMNER, SOME OF WHICH APPEARED TO HAVE BEEN UNDER-FED.

THE SHERIFF BEGAN AN INVESTIGATION, WORKING WITH THE OWNER, AND A LICENSED VETERINARIAN, TO IMPROVE THE HEALTH OF THE HORSES. THE OWNER, 59 YEAR OLD STEVEN FRAHM, WAS ALSO ENCOURAGED TO REDUCE THE HERD.

(Steven Frahm.  Photo Courtesy of Bremer County Sheriff)

AFTER MONITORING THE SITUATION FOR SEVERAL MONTHS, AUTHORITIES DETERMINED THE ANIMALS' WELFARE AND HEALTH WAS NOT IMPROVING. THE ANIMAL RESCUE LEAGUE OF IOWA WAS CONTACTED, AND LAST THURSDAY (APRIL 17TH), THE SHERIFF EXECUTED A SEARCH WARRANT TO ALLOW FOR THE EXAMINATION OF THE HORSES. THE VETIRNARIAN, ASSISTED BY THE, RESCUE LEAGUE AND VOLUNTEERS, DETERMINED THE ANIMALS WERE IN JEOPARDY, AND NEEDED TO BE RESCUED.

61 HORSES WERE ON THE PROPERTY; A 9 DAY OLD FILLY, DUE TO IT'S CONDITION, WAS TAKEN THE SAME DAY. THE REST WERE CONFISCATED TUESDAY (APRIL 22ND). 6 HAD TO BE EUTHANIZED.
FRAHM WAS THEN CHARGED WITH TEN COUNTS OF ANIMAL NEGLECT-SIMPLE MISDEMEANOR, AND ONE COUNT OF ANIMAL NEGLECT-SERIOUS MISDEMEANOR. FRAHM WAS RELEASED AFTER POSTING $1,000 BOND.

THE SHERIFF NOTED THAT FRAHM IS COOPERATING WITH OFFICIALS AND EVEN ASSISTED IN THE RESCUE OF THE HORSES.

THE RESCUE WAS COMPLETED WEDNESDAY (APRIL 23RD).

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