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A Smartsville man might face criminal charges after Animal Control removed more than a dozen animals from his Hutto Road property earlier this month.
Louis Silva Jr. was not caring adequately for a menagerie of animals that included miniature ponies, goats, llamas, emus, turkeys and donkeys, said Nevada County Sheriff's Sgt. Shirley Falls.
The neighbors had been complaining for months, but Silva was able to hang onto his livestock until several of the animals died, Falls said.
Some of the rescued animals were emaciated, she said.
“One pony was so bad he could barely walk” from malnourishment, Falls said.
Officers removed most of the animals March 29, and took one of Silva's dogs April 12. It was so wound up in its chain that it was frothing, Falls said.
A miniature pony was removed after allegedly being found loose on Thursday.
“He does just enough to slide by,” Falls said. “If we don't stay on him, it goes south ... it's a pattern. He'll have food (for the animals) but he won't give it to them.
“He shouldn't have any animals,” she said. “The neighbors are livid.”
But Lauri Polmanteer, who caretakes for Silva while he is on the road and who has known him since 1974, disputed the allegations.
“Those are fraudulent charges,” she said, adding the people who complained to Animal Control “had nothing else better to do.”
She said the animals had plenty of room and were not malnourished.
Silva “had just spent $2,000 trying to save his dog,” Polmanteer said. “This is not a person that is negligent with animals.”
Silva said he was putting “minimum” feed out for his animals because it was winter and there was plenty of grass for them to graze on.
“The field is as green as it could be,” he said Friday. “They didn't need supplemental feed.”
Silva said the horse that was taken Thursday had gotten out because Animal Control officers had left the gate open.
“So the horse walked out and away he (went),” Silva said. “That's how he got out on the road.”
Silva claims he is being harassed by his neighbors because his home is old.
“It's a little worn out, surrounded by people who are millionaires,” he said. “I've had animals here for 40 years. You can't tell me I do not know how to take care of an animal.”
He added that his animals are pedigreed and valuable, and that his animals died because they were being poisoned.
The case has been forwarded to the Nevada County District Attorney's office for review on possible felony charges.
Some of the rescued animals are at the Sammie's Friends-run shelter, and the miniature horses are being housed at other facilities.
“They get treats every day,” said shelter worker Kristina Jones. “They seem to be putting on weight. A vet came out and checked them.”
To contact Staff Writer Liz Kellar, e-mail lkellar@theunion.com or call (530) 477-4229.
Louis Silva Jr. was not caring adequately for a menagerie of animals that included miniature ponies, goats, llamas, emus, turkeys and donkeys, said Nevada County Sheriff's Sgt. Shirley Falls.
The neighbors had been complaining for months, but Silva was able to hang onto his livestock until several of the animals died, Falls said.
Some of the rescued animals were emaciated, she said.
“One pony was so bad he could barely walk” from malnourishment, Falls said.
Officers removed most of the animals March 29, and took one of Silva's dogs April 12. It was so wound up in its chain that it was frothing, Falls said.
A miniature pony was removed after allegedly being found loose on Thursday.
“He does just enough to slide by,” Falls said. “If we don't stay on him, it goes south ... it's a pattern. He'll have food (for the animals) but he won't give it to them.
“He shouldn't have any animals,” she said. “The neighbors are livid.”
But Lauri Polmanteer, who caretakes for Silva while he is on the road and who has known him since 1974, disputed the allegations.
“Those are fraudulent charges,” she said, adding the people who complained to Animal Control “had nothing else better to do.”
She said the animals had plenty of room and were not malnourished.
Silva “had just spent $2,000 trying to save his dog,” Polmanteer said. “This is not a person that is negligent with animals.”
Silva said he was putting “minimum” feed out for his animals because it was winter and there was plenty of grass for them to graze on.
“The field is as green as it could be,” he said Friday. “They didn't need supplemental feed.”
Silva said the horse that was taken Thursday had gotten out because Animal Control officers had left the gate open.
“So the horse walked out and away he (went),” Silva said. “That's how he got out on the road.”
Silva claims he is being harassed by his neighbors because his home is old.
“It's a little worn out, surrounded by people who are millionaires,” he said. “I've had animals here for 40 years. You can't tell me I do not know how to take care of an animal.”
He added that his animals are pedigreed and valuable, and that his animals died because they were being poisoned.
The case has been forwarded to the Nevada County District Attorney's office for review on possible felony charges.
Some of the rescued animals are at the Sammie's Friends-run shelter, and the miniature horses are being housed at other facilities.
“They get treats every day,” said shelter worker Kristina Jones. “They seem to be putting on weight. A vet came out and checked them.”
To contact Staff Writer Liz Kellar, e-mail lkellar@theunion.com or call (530) 477-4229.
