Charges Filed in Deaths of 9 Horses

Prosecutors charged the manager of a Montana State University farm near Bozeman with cruelty to animals Monday after nine horses died of dehydration when the creek through their pasture dried up and no one noticed.

Each of the nine counts filed against Kim Anderson is a misdemeanor. He was ordered to appear Nov. 11 in Gallatin County Justice Court.

State law defines cruelty to animals as knowingly or negligently subjecting an animal to mistreatment or neglect by failing to provide proper food, drink or shelter.

The deaths prompted outrage across Montana and led to the formation of a committee to oversee the care and use of animals as part of agricultural research and education. University President Geoff Gamble also called for an internal review.

Anderson, who has worked at the university since 1999, was put on paid leave Monday pending the case’s outcome, said Sharron S. Quisenberry, dean of the College of Agriculture.

“We accept full responsibility,” Quisenberry said. “It was a tragic situation, and people are duly upset. We’re upset. Hopefully, with what we’re doing and what we’re putting in place, this will never happen again.”

Anderson could not be reached for comment, and Deputy County Atty. Eric Kitzmiller declined comment.

Fourteen horses owned by the university and used for horsemanship classes were sent to pasture last summer at the school’s Fort Ellis farm near Bozeman, in south-central Montana. The only source of water was the creek, and it went dry.

Farm workers found six horses dead Sept. 3. Anderson, who managed the farm, was called, along with Bruce Sourness, a veterinarian who said it was apparent that the animals still alive were dehydrated and began treatment. An additional horse died at the site and two others later had to be euthanized.

Six horses, including the two euthanized, were taken to David Catlin’s veterinary clinic. He said the horses may have gone up to two weeks without water, according to court documents.

Sandy Gagnon, a professor of animal and range sciences and responsible for the school’s horse program, said the animals should have been checked several times a week. He said dust in the creek was 3 to 4 inches deep, indicating that it was dry for some time before the horses were found dead, according to court documents.