PIERCE COUNTY, Wash. — A Pierce County woman is facing animal cruelty charges after authorities found a horse that was a "sack of bones" and emaciated dogs on her property.
Authorities filed charges on March 13 against Kassandra Hand in Pierce County Superior Court. Hand faces first- and second-degree animal cruelty charges, according to court documents.
According to court documents, Pierce County Animal Control was called to Hand's property on July 8, 2023, because a horse was reportedly a "sack of bones."
Authorities observing the horse named Flash said in court documents he had a "very low body condition." Animal control told Hand she needed to take Flash to see a veterinarian or they'd take him away.
Flash weighed 972 pounds when he should have weighed between 1,200 and 1,300 pounds, according to authorities.
Nearly three weeks later, authorities issued a search warrant on Hand's Pierce County property.
During the search, four puppies were found in a "filthy" child's Pack 'n Play, with no access to food or water, according to charging documents. Officials said there were excessive amounts of urine and feces build-up.
When Flash was taken to a veterinarian, he was prescribed new food to treat his malnutrition. The veterinarian found that Flash's hooves were in poor condition and found a murmur in his heart that might go away if he gained weight.
Officials had Flash trot, where a veterinarian determined his gait was not stable. It was unclear if the horse's problems with his gait were from a lack of muscle tone or muscle loss that won't come back.
Flash gained 115 pounds on his new diet, but despite the improvements in malnutrition, the horse needed to be euthanized, according to court documents. Authorities said Flash's lack of dental care and an untreated abscess would have been too painful for the horse to eat normally. Flash was "quidding" often, meaning he was dropping unchewed food from his mouth.
In charging documents, investigators confirmed Flash and two dogs on the property were emaciated. All of the dogs tested positive for a high parasite burden, while the horse tested positive for parasites and dental disease.
