Woman Charged With Animal Cruelty

February 27, 2008

A Cantonment woman has been arrested and charged with felony cruelty to animals in connection with a colt found hanging from a sling in a barn.

A 5-month-old colt named “Miracle Man” was rescued by Panhandle Equine Rescue January 29 when he was found suspended from the rafter in an attempt to get it off an injured leg.

Iris Rose Fortner, 51, of De Soto Road, Cantonment, was arrested on the cruelty charge because she failed for seek medical attention for Miracle Man. Her bond was set at $2,500.

PER investigators received an anonymous tip about Miracle Man in the Cantonment area. Fortner contacted a veterinarian at PER’s insistence. But the veterinarian was unable to do a complete exam because the horse’s owner could not afford the needed x-rays, according to Lowery.

Fortner voluntarily surrendered the colt to investigators, and he was immediately taken to the veterinarian where he was hospitalized. Miracle Man suffered a variety of serious medical problems as a result of hanging from the makeshift sling, she said.

“The attending vet says his life can be saved, but he wouldn’t have lasted another day or two in the conditions he was living in,” Lowery told NorthEscambia.com back on January 30. “The vet reported to us this morning that he stood on his own all night and is eating and drinking.”

Donations are being accepted to help defray the cost of Miracle Man’s veterinarian bills. Donations can be mailed to Panhandle Equine Rescue, P.O. Box 777, Cantonment, FL. 32533. All donations are tax deductible.

Pictured above: Submitted photo of “Miracle Man”, a 5 month old colt rescued by Panhandle Equine Rescue. Click the photo to enlarge.

WARNING: Some readers may find the enlarged photo to be disturbing.

This is a follow up to a story NorthEscambia.com first reported on January 31.

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Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News