They should not be able to see parole for at least 3 years per count of animal cruelty, then they can think about what having one really means.
Some crimes are inexplicable. There's no understanding what benefits, legal or illegal, are gained by committing them.
Such is the case of the arrests recently in South Carolina of three family members on charges of animal cruelty. The arrests came when the state's Humane Society learned of 23 sorely neglected and half-starved horses in a Richland County pasture.
Although all 23 horses appeared to be in awful physical condition -- rail-thin and several seemingly suffering from skin ailments -- the cruelty charges related specifically to five horses. Four of them, according to authorities, were found shut up in dark stalls laden with urine and feces.
Facing animal cruelty charges are Hazelene Trexler, 70, and her two sons, Terry Trexler, 44, and James Trexler, 48. The latter is a public official; he was promptly and rightly suspended from his post as an assistant commissioner in the South Carolina Department of Agriculture.
The irony in this is sickeningly palpable.
Where is the sense in this crime? Unlike the cruel "sports" of dogfighting and cockfighting, which attract gamblers and sadistic-minded spectators, it's hard to see how people would benefit from mistreating horses. Are they just mean? Do they just enjoy making animals suffer?
Also inexplicable is that the horses were apparently illegally transported across state lines from a state-quarantined facility in Jefferson County, Ga.
Maybe when the three suspects go on trial, they can explain exactly what happened.
One would think, given his post in the Department of Agriculture, that James Trexler would have more compassion than most for farm animals. Yet, Humane Society officers dug up remains of at least nine horses on property formerly owned by him.
If found guilty, the assistant commissioner would deserve the maximum sentence the law allows -- not only because of a lack of compassion and inexplicable behavior, but also because he violated his public trust.
Comments
They should not be able to see parole for at least 3 years per count of animal cruelty, then they can think about what having one really means.
There's got to be more to this case then just lazy people. Keeping horses is expensive.
Ha, even justus4's best effort couldn't make this a racial comment. I knew he'd be stumped one day.
Georgians have been very fortunate to have had an agricultural commissioner like Tommy Irvin who founded one of the finest equine recovery programs anywhere. A horse owner himself, Mr. Irvin demonstrates his compassion for both animal and (often overhwelmed) owner. South Carolina must recruit their agriculture officials at cockfights or illegal livestock sales.
Justus, just about anyone can get a job for the federal government. There's no quality control.
Buick, when did you work for the federal governement or have any thing to do with federal hiring practices? Spewing baseless BS again? Furhtermore, Justus4, you are as screwed up as ever. The guy is an employee of the SCDA NOT the USDA according to the article. Do you have a reading comprehension problem?
hello,jack. long time no see....you alright?
great seeing you,take care....
met you at he get together--remeber?
The dead horses found on the property could have been ritual killings... you never know...
I don't understand why other people can't understand that there will alway be the village idiot and the town psychopath in every city. I, of course, am neither, thank you very much.
Patricia, if you read Justus' post carefully he almost made it racial. Keep up your posts because I like them. I even understand your sense of humor which obviously is not understood by all readers. To the poster who says the Govt will hire anyone. The Federal government does thorough checks on all employees. More or some than on others, but a check. What happened? Didn't they hire you?
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