Horrendous Case of 'Alleged' Abuse in VA -

[Cartier]

Agree. 100%.

For those who see value in labeling, have at it. But doing so is a crutch and has become a way to avoid accountability and responsibility for conduct. As a society we need to turn away from psycho-babble crap labels / excuses that merely enable every form of deviant behavior. We need to stand up for common sense, and say with a strong clear collective voice: “This is WRONG, we will not tolerate it, and WE WILL HOLD YOU ACCOUNTABLE.”

[QUOTE=Anne FS;8373443]
No. Not buying it.

That’s like the old murder defense: to kill unless it’s in self defense, who would do that? You’d have to be crazy to kill. Therefore by definition of the act you committed you had a mental illness. Therefore murderers should not be punished but treated.

Anne Goland Shumate is like Michael Vick: knows exactly what she’s doing, knows that it is cruel, knows that what she’s doing is directly causing pain and suffering to animals who are entirely dependent on her, and knows also that what she’s doing is against the law, and DOES IT ALL ANYWAY.

She did not accumulate animals just to starve them. On the contrary, she had a plan. She accumulated animals in order to collect money from people who supported her rescue so she could specifically use that money for another purpose. It’s a perfectly logical scam: “I’ll find a way to get a lot of money free. Brilliant!”

Do you think Bernie Madoff is mentally ill? Nope, he’s a lying, cheating schemer. So is Anne Goland Shumate.[/QUOTE]

[Timex]

and arguing about whether or not a person that none of you seem to know, may or not be mentally ill, is doing what good, exactly? until any of you diagnose her, how about the focus go back to the animals?

[Anne_FS]

The main focus is the animals, and because it is, it’s important that people like Anne Goland Shumate don’t get a pass when they purposely do despicable things and people say they’re mentally ill when in fact they know exactly what they do is cruel and they do it anyway. It’s extremely relevant to these cases that hoarders are designated as hoarders and deliberately vile people are designated as deliberately vile people.

[ML]

Thank you to those that cared and helped in this horrible situation. I saw pictures and wondered where all the things came from to CVHR. I had heard some company’s were stepping up too. But the horse owners that stepped up and not just from VA. My hat is off to each and every one of you. Sadly these horses will need care for a long time. I feel that the 501’s need watch dogs too. Some good ones still out there.

ML

[seeuatx]

I was thinking about this today and wondering, if it is indeed true that she was allowed to keep the warmblood breeding stock in the best condition, is there any way the registries could band together and ban this woman from presenting anything for inspection?

[stoicfish]

[QUOTE=Anne FS;8373443]
No. Not buying it.

That’s like the old murder defense: to kill unless it’s in self defense, who would do that? You’d have to be crazy to kill. Therefore by definition of the act you committed you had a mental illness. Therefore murderers should not be punished but treated.

Anne Goland Shumate is like Michael Vick: knows exactly what she’s doing, knows that it is cruel, knows that what she’s doing is directly causing pain and suffering to animals who are entirely dependent on her, and knows also that what she’s doing is against the law, and DOES IT ALL ANYWAY.

She did not accumulate animals just to starve them. On the contrary, she had a plan. She accumulated animals in order to collect money from people who supported her rescue so she could specifically use that money for another purpose. It’s a perfectly logical scam: “I’ll find a way to get a lot of money free. Brilliant!”

Do you think Bernie Madoff is mentally ill? Nope, he’s a lying, cheating schemer. So is Anne Goland Shumate.[/QUOTE]

This is about the animals so this will be my last comment.
Just because a person is ill does not mean they are not responsible for their actions. It just means there is an underlying issue. Once again the whole wealth of mental health issue is simplified down to the legal version.
Think of it this way instead. If people were more knowledgeable and understanding of these issues, it may have been identified and treated or at least properly labeled legally so she may never own animals just like a pedophile is not allowed to be near children or schools. Neither act is less than horrific but if society quits covering their eyes then many of these issues would have official channels that would prevent these things from happening.
I’m in Canada and I think we have a different culture around mental health issues. Many other countries do also. The implications are so much more than a defense case.
I’m done, except to say that I am in favor of giving her an excuse and a pass is something you might not want to say to me in the same room. I don’t know if she is unhealthy but the sleeping around dead animals and not bothering to hide the dead animals and accumulating 100 dead dogs or cats is definitely not self promoting. In fact it shows a lack of scheming and unnecessary behaviour that will get you caught. So lock her up for 6 years and without counselling and in seven more years animals will continue to suffer because the typical legal route will say she has severed her debt to society and will not account for her behavior.

[Cartier]

[QUOTE=stoicfish;8373744]
This is about the animals so this will be my last comment.
Just because a person is ill does not mean they are not responsible for their actions. It just means there is an underlying issue. Once again the whole wealth of mental health issue is simplified down to the legal version.
Think of it this way instead. If people were more knowledgeable and understanding of these issues, it may have been identified and treated or at least properly labeled legally so she may never own animals just like a pedophile is not allowed to be near children or schools. Neither act is less than horrific but if society quits covering their eyes then many of these issues would have official channels that would prevent these things from happening.
I’m in Canada and I think we have a different culture around mental health issues. Many other countries do also. The implications are so much more than a defense case.
I’m done, except to say that I am in favor of giving her an excuse and a pass is something you might not want to say to me in the same room. I don’t know if she is unhealthy but the sleeping around dead animals and not bothering to hide the dead animals and accumulating 100 dead dogs or cats is definitely not self promoting. In fact it shows a lack of scheming and unnecessary behaviour that will get you caught. So lock her up for 6 years and without counselling and in seven more years animals will continue to suffer because the typical legal route will say she has severed her debt to society and will not account for her behavior.[/QUOTE]

Don’t give a rats ass about her health, and I think that issue is irrelevant. We can not cure pedophelia, we will not cure other bad conduct. The best we can do is hold people accountable. They can seek “help” or not depending upon their desire to avoid jail in the future. And they can pay for it too. But this debate is distracting us from other issues.

This woman had 100 rescue horses. Seriously, 100? Where are the most recent owners of these one hundred horses? How did so many end up in rescue. Are people just dumping their horses on rescues?

[sid]

From what I understand (I could be wrong) her non-profit’s “mission” was to rescue horses that would be going to slaughter, which may have meant paying $$ for them. above “meat price”, the killers would pay.

Regardless, in this case as swift and painless death would have been more humane considering what she did to them. And even if she did “buy” them to save them from slaughter, for 100 horses it could not have been for the $1MM in donations they took into the non- profit.

Smells like financial scam all the way, not mental illness. Brilliant really, but thank God this was found out.

Just got back from dropping off ucler meds, more blankets, vet wrap, salt blocks and more halters to a drop off point for Hope’s Legacy (and towels, they emailed last night saying they need towels, fyi for locals who are donating supplies). Gentle Giants in MD last I heard was in need of blankets size 78 or larger. I’ll know more tonight and post.

[Linda]

Lady J 70, I think there are a lot of similarities between being evil and being mentally ill.

[sid]

???

One has their full senses when committing and evil act, the other does not have their full senses when committing an evil act.

Apples and oranges. That’s why the insanity defenses are so popular in courtrooms for heinous acts.

Fine line.

[AKB]

I heard that these horses need a lot of veterinary care, medications, and special feeds right now, so the bills are adding up. Blankets and other supplies are very appreciated, but unfortunately dollars are needed too.

[sid]

[QUOTE=AKB;8373907]
I heard that these horses need a lot of veterinary care, medications, and special feeds right now, so the bills are adding up. Blankets and other supplies are very appreciated, but unfortunately dollars are needed too.[/QUOTE]

Exactly. When the “news” of this is old news and the supplies stop coming in the dollars will be needed. It will be a very, very long recovery and care for the incredible amount of horses that are in such life-threatening and deplorable condition.

When the “shock” is over that has initiated an amazing passionate outpouring of supplies from the VA horse community – and this is “old news” on internet-- is when the hard part comes for these rescues…the money will be needed for hay, bedding and feed for a long time to come. Especially as we a heading into winter when pasture is gone… A very long time.

So don’t forget them. They have a long road a head to get these poor creatures back to health and weight.

[sid]

[QUOTE=AKB;8373907]
I heard that these horses need a lot of veterinary care, medications, and special feeds right now, so the bills are adding up. Blankets and other supplies are very appreciated, but unfortunately dollars are needed too.[/QUOTE]

They cannot give concentrated feed right now. Just small amount of forage/hay every 2 -4 hours.

They have to come back up slowly for their gut to adjust having been starved for so damned long, now just skin over carcass bones.

Hopefully, when they can adjust to concentrates they’ll need a lot of it. That’s when the $$ donations will surely be needed.

It’s “rehab” right now, as their gut has pretty much shut down. Piling on concentrates is the last thing to do right now.

For those of you have had a horse undergo colic surgery, you surely understand they feed tiny bits of forage for a long time until the gut can adjust to the assault of basically being shut down.

Not dissimilar in the case of these horses, too. Hope this makes sense.

[rodawn]

[QUOTE=sid;8373982]
They cannot give concentrated feed right now. Just small amount of forage/hay every 2 -4 hours.

They have to come back up slowly for their gut to adjust having been starved for so damned long, now just skin over carcass bones.

Hopefully, when they can adjust to concentrates they’ll need a lot of it. That’s when the $$ donations will surely be needed.

It’s “rehab” right now, as their gut has pretty much shut down. Piling on concentrates is the last thing to do right now.

For those of you have had a horse undergo colic surgery, you surely understand they feed tiny bits of forage for a long time until the gut can adjust to the assault of basically being shut down.

Not dissimilar in the case of these horses, too. Hope this makes sense.[/QUOTE]

This is very true. I have rescued horses not nearly in this bad a shape who did not survive. There will be problems with the kidneys, the liver, and the gut. Severe malnourishment changes the bones, the muscles, the metabolism, the brain, the endocrine system…the whole body and every system therein, even sometimes the DNA. It takes a long, slow process to bring it all right. We need to focus on the long term needs that will come along in 6 months from now. This is where monthly support for the next year will be important. Not just a one time donation. Just an idea.

[sid]

[QUOTE=rodawn;8374009]
This is very true. I have rescued horses not nearly in this bad a shape who did not survive. There will be problems with the kidneys, the liver, and the gut. Severe malnourishment changes the bones, the muscles, the metabolism, the brain, the endocrine system…the whole body and every system therein, even sometimes the DNA. It takes a long, slow process to bring it all right. We need to focus on the long term needs that will come along in 6 months from now. This is where monthly support for the next year will be important. Not just a one time donation. Just an idea.[/QUOTE]

Yes. This. I did post-surgical layup for my local university equine medical center for many years. And dealt with a few rescues of my own, so I know the internal medicine road.

IF they can recover these poor creatures in the next few weeks and help them turn the corner from death’s door, hands on 24/7 that will be a Godsend.

Keeping the fed over the winter and also keeping the many volunteers on board to clean stalls/hygiene is no easy task either. Winter sucks and these horses are coming into winter.

So this is when you separate the wheat from the chaff on who continues to donate $$ and volunteers.

[Anne_FS]

[QUOTE=stoicfish;8373744]
Just because a person is ill does not mean they are not responsible for their actions. It just means there is an underlying issue.[/QUOTE]

I know this, and I agree. I reiterate that this woman deliberately planned this. She deliberately collected money for her 501©(3) and deliberately applied it to her own personal spending instead of for what it was legally bound to be used. That is the purposeful act. Like Bernie Madoff, she didn’t have an exit plan. Maybe she did. Maybe she was getting ready to bring in the backhoe and bury the dead animals. Like Madoff, she’d gotten away with this stuff for quite a while. For her the dead animals were hidden - they were hidden on her farm. Sure, she can get counseling. In prison.

[VirginiaBred]

@Anne FS

She is not mentally unbalanced. She is not a hoarder. Stop this right now because it will only get her off from any legal punishment. The 18 warmblood horses are in good shape because she deliberately, purposely, starved the others to feed her warmbloods. She established a rescue - she took in over $1 million in 2013 - and purposely starved all those animals, using the money she made to fund her warmblood breeding program. This is calculated cruelty and I don’t believe for one moment Anne Goland / Anne Shumate is some poor mentally ill person. She knew exactly what she was doing and did it willingly and purposefully.

You are exactly right.

[sid]

Update. She was arrested this a.m., according to the Orange County Sheriff’s Office press conference held about an hour ago.

As a result of this case, the ball is rolling to fix Virginia’s horrible animal abuse laws.

https://www.facebook.com/anna.russau/posts/10206368739470970?fref=nf&pnref=story

From what I understand, the other horses that remain on her farm have not been seized. “Family and friends” are taking care of them.

There was no “Q and A” in the press conference.

[LookmaNohands]

http://www.nbc29.com/story/30349381/authorities-hold-press-conference-on-peaceable-farm-investigation#.Vi6D_Tl8MSw.facebook

27 charges are pending.

[jvanrens]

Just saw this on Facebook:

Orange County Sheriff’s Office1 hr ·
Statements from today’s joint press conference
Good afternoon, I am Diana Wheeler, Orange County Commonwealth’s Attorney, and I am here with Sheriff Mark Amos. We want to provide some factual information about the ongoing investigation of Peaceable Farms here in Somerset. As this is an ongoing investigation we cannot go into specifics at this time or take questions today. This case involves a large number of animals and a great deal of medical/veterinary information, as well as a large number of documents that are connected with the case.
We are still working our way through this information and it is a very detailed and time consuming process. We of course want to take the time and care to do this properly. I would like to address concerns that have been expressed to both my office and the Sheriff’s Office about the fact that there are animals remaining on the farm. Decisions about which animals to remove from the farm were made based on the requirements of Virginia Law in conjunction with the medical evidence of the veterinarian examining each animal. I made the decision about each animal after reviewing the medical information in accordance with the statute that controls animal seizure in the Commonwealth of Virginia. These decisions are not based on my personal feelings, but on the letter of the law. Concerns about the law’s requirements should be addressed to members of the Virginia Legislature, which is where our laws are made. Criminal charges are pending and at this time there are 27 counts of animal cruelty charged. As I said, this is an ONGOING investigation and it is anticipated that there will be additional charges as we continue to review the evidence.
Sheriff Amos will be providing you with factual information about the investigative process.
Sheriff Mark Amos:
I just want to start by thanking the volunteers, horse rescue organizations, members of my office and the Commonwealth’s Attorney Office who have worked tirelessly on this case over the last week. I would also like to thank the citizens who have so generously donated money and resources to the Orange Animal shelter and Equine Rescue Organizations! As you know we executed a search warrant on Monday, October 19, 2015 at Peaceable Farm in the Somerset area of Orange County. What we saw was one of the most horrendous sites that I have seen in my 28 years of law enforcement. We found 6 dead horses, one dead donkey, and many dead dogs, cats and chickens. A total of 5 horses were euthanized on the property and four have been euthanized since. Many of the remaining animals were in need of veterinary care. Deputies and Rescue workers worked three long days removing many animals and preserving and collecting evidence. Every horse was triaged by veterinarians to determine its body condition. The sickest horses were immediately removed from the property and sent to rescue organizations. Each horse was photographed with identifying information so we could know which horse went where. The suspect in this case is Mrs. Anne Goland. Mrs. Goland agreed to release 71 horses, 28 cats and 7 dogs without seizure. Had Mrs. Goland not voluntarily released many of them, we would have had no authority to take them from her. On Wednesday, October 21st, we noticed that the condition of some of the remaining horses had deteriorated and we had them re-evaluated by a veterinarian. Ten more horses were deemed to have an immediate threat to their lives. Mrs. Goland would not voluntarily release these horses so they were seized by law enforcement and taken off the property. After all was said and done, we removed 81 equids, 28 cats and seven dogs.
Mrs. Goland is still in possession of 18 horses, 1 bull and several cats and dogs. This agency had a tremendous amount of help from Equine Rescue Organizations, Veterinarians and local volunteers. We could not have moved that many animals from the property as quickly as we did without their help. On Friday October 23rd we were able to get permission from Mrs. Goland to come on her property to make periodic checks to see that she is properly feeding and watering the remaining animals. As for this investigation: this case is immensely large in scope. Peaceable Farm had two different operations being conducted. One was a rescue farm with a 501c3 status and the other was the breeding of horses. Lead s we have developed over the last week have caused us to contact the IRS to assist with the income related investigation. We also received information that Mrs. Golden was maintaining a number of self storage units in Albemarle County and we searched them for evidence with the assistance of the Albemarle Count y PD and the Virginia State Police. Additionally, we have leads that will take us to other states to include both Maryland and Pennsylvania. We have submitted animal bodies for necropsies to determine cause of death and we have a number of forensic type tests that need to be performed concerning animal remains. We are currently going through every veterinary report to get a handle on the condition of each horse that we came into contact with. At this time, Mrs. Goland is in custody and arrangements have been made with a family member and friend to care for the animals that are still at the property. We have been working constantly with Mrs. Wheeler and her Office on this investigation and we are guided by her decisions as Commonwealth’s Attorney. At the end of the day, we all want to see that justice is done. We are conduction this investigation in a thorough and methodical way and the investigation is ongoing. If anyone had specific information in this case, please contact the Orange County Sheriff’s Office at 540-672-1200.