Knifley Woman Charged With Cruelty To Animals

A Knifley woman was arrested Tuesday and charged with cruelty to animals after law enforcement officers found a horse belonging to her near death and several others in very poor condition.Forty-five-year-old Carla Kirkland, of Elkhorn Road, was arrested Tuesday on a warrant charging her with eight counts of cruelty to animals, second degree. Kirkland was lodged in the Adair County Regional Jail and later released on bond.According to Adair County Deputy Sheriff Bruce McCloud, who is investigating the case, the situation involving the animals began to unfold Sunday afternoon when the Adair County 911 Center received a call regarding a horse in a field on Elkhorn Road that was possibly dead.Deputy McCloud responded to the call, and when he arrived on the scene found the horse was still alive but in seriously poor condition. McCloud said that he called a veterinarian, who came to the scene and euthanized the animal after determining it could not be saved.McCloud said that upon further investigation, he discovered several more animals – ponies, mares and colts – in very poor condition.After conferring with County Attorney Jennifer Hutchison-Corbin and District Judge Michael Loy, Deputy McCloud said that he was able to obtain a warrant for Kirkland’s arrest and a court order allowing the seizure of the horses.After arresting Kirkland, McCloud said that they seized a total of 11 animals. The animals were taken to two separate farms, where they are being fed and cared for.McCloud said that he had a veterinarian return to Kirkland’s property to check the remaining animals before they were seized.“The vet said it was a case of severe malnutrition,” Deputy McCloud stated. “They just weren’t being fed.”The deputy said that officers had responded to complaints about the welfare of Kirkland’s animals in the past, and she had been told actions would be taken if she didn’t provide better care for them.