Thank you for reporting on Tonka's death. He reached out to 100's of animal lovers across the nation. The utter human cruelty and detachment of feeling exposed in this case shows a very frightening future for this country.

They are trying to help this guy "remedy" things? Tonka DIED! How can he remedy that? Tonka's mom was lucky enough to go to BH and be slowly brought back to health. These people must be charged.

Geeze Christy, how long do you give someone to "remedy" the situation when you have several starved and dying animals on your hands? Do you just wait until they are dead, as was the case here? That's really easy, then you guys don't have to do anything. Just collect a paycheck! This is an atrocity that should have never happened. None of you can blame anyone but yourselves for this the outcome of this situation. These horses should have been seized back in March! The foal and mare were "staggering", the foal could not get up on his own, how much time do you think that little guy had for his caregivers to "remedy" the situation. Well he ran out of time too, as you well know. You govern the welfare of the horses in what is well known as "The Horse Capital of the World"....GREAT JOB!

Marion County Animal Services really dropped the ball on this one. How many times do you have to go by and look at the horses and the foal to determine they are being starved before you seize them? It seems clear to me Christy Jergens from Animal Services is trying to take the heat off of them. Don't these people at Animal Control feel any guilt for not intervening on behalf of the horses? Brook's Approval was so starved that she couldn't get up after delivering a stillbirth and was euthanized. Sienna was starved. Dingolay and her foal, Tonka, were starved. The foal, Tonka, died. How much more evidence does one need to come to the conclusion that Animal Control in Marion County is USELESS and INCOMPETENT!

Thank you so much for following up on this story, I hope you continue to follow this story.

These horses should have been seized immediately, anyone can see, these horses didn't have much longer to live, and sadly the baby foal Tonka, only lived four more days. He did have four special days of love, food, water and shelter and knew he was special and his life meant something and not all humans are cruel. He was surrounded by loving, caring people. He should have lived if this had been handled in the right way, if Animal Control had seized the horses and they had been given the proper attention. Rather than leaving them in the care of the very people that did this to them in the first place!

The horse world is watching this case to see how it has and will be handled. There are many people from all over this country and other countries, as well, that are angered and disgusted over this tragedy that could have been avoided if only handled properly. We are the voice for those that cannot speak. Let's show abusers across this nation that Florida will not tolerate this kind of abuse and they will be punished to full extent of law.

Florida is the "Horse Capital of the World". This is how we treat our horses?

This is abuse.....no other word for it...Shame on the ones who let these beautiful horses starve.......These people should be CHARGED for the crime..........and not a slap on the wrist... Pay the price for what you did and it still wouldn't be as bad as starving to death.

The horses NEVER changed ownership, they changed location only. Rachel Yonush was still the care taker of these horses. AC was called out on March 4, 2009, on March 6, 2009, March 9, 2009, March 18, 2009, March 24, 2009, March 30, 2009, April 7, 2009, April 10, 2009 and then not until April 29, 2009. On April 16, 2009, Rachel Yonush was evicted from the original property on Hwy 40, she moved the horses to Krystal Knirsch's property. There was no "change of ownership", these horses were still owned by Todd Williams and Rachel Yonush was still the caregiver. They got worse at Knirsch's property, but they were already very bad when they got there. Not being fed will do that to anything. The horse that foaled at Knirsch's property was Brook's Approval, the pictures of her lying on the ground are deplorable, along with her dead foal. Dingolay already had her foal, Tonka, and they were both in horrid shape. How can AC give these people 3 more weeks to "remedy" the situation. When is enough...enough?

why were the charges dropped??
it's bad enough marion county dropped the ball and allowed these horses to suffer and tonka's death!
please continue to follow this case.

Once again, one government entity pointing at another. How do you actually look at yourself in the mirror Christy Jergins after trying to make excuses as to why these animals weren't seized. Do the ribs have to stick all the way THROUGH the skin before you feel you have the right to take them. Those poor horses. If only there was a way to make Crystal Knish and Todd Williams suffer for only a few days what they put these horses thru for month. Crystal Knish drove by them EVERY DAY! What kind of a horrible individual does that? Why were the charges dropped? They had absolutely everything they needed. Where is the professionalism here??? More importantly - where is the compassion??? What a BLACK MARK on Marion County!!!!

why is it that the people (viewers) concerned with this atrocious indifference of marion county animal control know more facts about these poor horses than they do??
christy, just how long do you wait for a situation to be remedied?? do you just wait til the animals in question die off, as in this case?? i guess that saves a lot of paperwork, doesn't it!
this incident will draw national attention--is florida once again going to be viewed as the "screw up" state??
the people involved in the abuse and neglect of these horses should be charged with a felony!! and then deny them food and water!

I think it's great that one charge - a misdemeanor - was brought against Krystal Knirsch. I guess if the horse she owned had died Marion County AC would have dropped her charge, since the horse wasn't dead. Is that what Marion County is trying to tell the public - if the horse dies, like the ones that were owned by/or in the care of Rachel Yonush then no charges will be filed? Heck, Todd Williams is awaiting sentencing on dog fighting in Columbia County. So he goes from abusing one type of animal to another and no one gives a darn! Way to go "HORSE CAPTIAL OF THE WORLD". Is this what you teach your children?

If anyone would like to see a play by play list of what is PUBLIC RECORD take the time and visit Beauty's Haven website www.beautysequinerescue.org and see for yourself the photos of Tonka, Dingolay, and even Brook's Approval - if you can stomach it. How can you stand there and see this mare suffering after delivering a dead foal and walk away saying Hey, I'll check back in a couple of weeks - come on!! Did Tonka have the open wounds on his body when ACO Stephens was there for Brook on April 28th?

How do you people sleep at night? And now, Rachel Yonush still has horses in her care, how long until they die UNDER YOUR WATCH?????

In my view, Christy should be fired, fined, jailed, and never given a job relating to animals.

Todd and Crystal should be fined and jailed and not allowed to go near animals ever again.

Marion County officials, including the DA, may be gloating in their "power," but their actions are those of cowardly, spineless, selfish weaklings. They ought to be ashamed of themselves.

May the public express enough outrage over this case to force the county to bring those who wronged those dear horses to justice, including its "own" employees.

No excuses suffice from AC and Christy for not acting on this, while it may have been possible to save lives. The lack of respect and concern shows that this office has no credibility for the acountability of animals it serves. No, she is not Michael Vick, but it smells the same! This deserves no less than felony charges. If not, who is next? Florida's reputation has already suffered from the loss of many polo ponies.

Definitely something wrong with this picture.

Christy Jergens gets paid for letting horses be abused ,starved and then die?

How pathetic. If Animal services has no right to take someones property, what do we
need Animal Services for?
This county is enabling people to abuse and starve a living creature.

This is beyond belief.
These horses had to go a long long time without food to look like they did, and for some to die.

Animal Services did nothing for the "animal." Those horses counted on someone to intervene, and A/C failed. There is no EXCUSE for their deaths.

I think Animal Services staff and the owners and caretakers of these
horses need to have felony abuse charges slapped on them.

Its time to contact a D.A. here. The Horse capitol of the United States, and
this is allowed? I think not.

Christy Jergens is no more An Animal Services person/ agent than the man on the moon.

Save the taxpayers money and get rid of her and the whole staff at Animal Services.

Thank you for keeping this horrible case of neglect and starvation in the public eye. It is increditable that Marion County Animal Services could allow this behavior to have gone on. It is also very sad that the state's attorney is so unconcerned about animal abuse that he refuses to bring charges against all parties involved. This story has been publicized nationally and it certainly does not speak well for Florida.

THE LAW THE JUSTICE SYSTEM , ANIMAL CONTROL, ALL OF YOU ARE NOT DOING YOUR JOBS> IF YOU ARE AN ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICER , YOU NEED TO REMOVE ANY NEGLECTED , STARVING , AND ABUSED ANIMALS , THE THOUGHT OF GIVING PEOPLE A CHANCE TO REMEDY THE SITUATION IS A JOKE IF THEY CARED IN THE FIRST PLACE THE ANIMALS WOULD NOT BE IN THIS SITUATION. THE STATES ATTORNEY, JUDGES, LAWYERS AND ANYONE ELSE THAT FEELS NO PROSECUTION IS GOING TO HAPPEN WELL ALL OF YOU NEED TO GET IN TOUCH WITH YOUR FEELINGS AND FIND A NEW LINE OF WORK.

ITS SIMPLE, IF PEOPLE KNEW YOU JUDGES AND LAWYERS AND STATE ATTORNEY OFFICES WOULD DO THEIR JOBS AND MANDATORY JAIL AND FINES PEOPLE WOULD NOT BE STARVING, BEATING NEGLECTING THESE MAGNIFICENT ANIMALS BECAUSE THEY JUST DONT CARE, ALL THIS CRAP ABOUT THEY DIDNT KNOW HOW TO TAKE CARE OF THEM IS JUST CRAP. LETS GO GUYS GET WITH THE PROGRAM THE ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICERS NEED TO DO THEIR JOBS ALONG WITH THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF UNWANTED , STARVED , ABUSED ANIMALS IN ALL COUNTIES HOW LONG ARE YOU GOING TO LET THESE LOWLIFES GET AWAY WITH THIS ABUSE!!!! PROSECUTE CHARGE THEM, STARVE THEM BEAT THEM GIVE THEM BACK WHAT THEY INFLICTED ON THESE INNOCENT ANIMALS.

Where is the pride that you would think AC would have in being THE voice for animals in Marion County? Has anyone who works for AC in Marion County even READ your own County Commissioners' expectations for the MINIMUM care people MUST GIVE to their animals?

The "humans" who had the responsibility of caring for these horses missed EVERY SINGLE MINIMUM CARE REQUIREMENT!!!

What are you doing for your paycheck, Christy??? Must there be MORE charges brought up against the ENABLERS (aka Marion County Animal Control) of the NON-caregivers of these horses who were starved to death?

Can anyone tell me just exactly HOW LONG it takes to starve an animal? I imagine it takes more than missing a feeding or two----YA THINK???

Christy, you should ABSOLUTELY be ashamed!!! This will NOT go away. You may as well buck up, sweetheart, and DO YOUR FREAKING JOB!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So the state attorney dropped the charges? Why? Animal control did not remove the mare and foal 16 days earlier? Why? That foal never had a chance to live. He spent his short life ginding his teeth in pain from starvation. In Brevard county Christine Abrams was charged and sent to jail for starving to death her German Shepaherd Ella. Marion county animal countrol needs to step up and do it's job. These are registered Thoroughbreds . . .Chapter 828.125 - Killing or aggravated abuse of registered breed horses… Intentional starvation leading to death of a registered Equus should qualify under Florida Statutes 775.082, s.775.083 or s. 775.084.

ACCUSED TERRORIST AGAINST OUR COUNTRY ARE GIVEN PROPER FOOD/WATER/SHELTER,AND IF NOT,IT COMES TO THE HEADLINES OF THE MEDIA. ANIMALS WITH NO VOICE CAN BE STARVED AND LEFT TO DIE? I'M CONFUSED. PRISONERS GET ABUSED AND THEIR ABUSERS GET PUNISHED; ANIMALS WITH NO VOICE GET ABUSED/STARVED AND LEFT TO DIE, AND THEIR ABUSERS ARE LET OFF OF THE JUSTICE SYSTEMS HOOK? MARION CNTY OFFICIALS SHOULD BE PROSECUTED 2.

Thank you for continuing coverage of this story. It is sad that we have to scream at the top of our voices to try and be heard by a justice system that we (the taxpayers) pay for. I hope the Judges and States Attorney realize there are elections and ways to lose their jobs if they cant do the publics business they are elected to do. What a total travesty of justice!! I have worked with Lake County AC and our local H.S. and each time they have responded quickly and resolved the problems. What is up with Animal Services in Marion County???? Are you kidding me?? Someone please investigate this further and force them to do their job. All citizens of Marion Co. need to see where their precious tax dollars are going to pay people to not do the job! In the mean time how many other animals in this County are suffering from lack of response from the very people paid to protect them. Maybe the public needs to fire them all and reform that agency. This went on far to long and these animals should have been seized. Now it is up to private citizens to make the case which should have been made by AC.. What an utter embarassment for Marion County AC, Judges and Prosecutors in the "Horse Capitol" . I am forwarding this to everyone I know including the Jockey Club (they probably already know) .
WAKE UP MARION COUNTY. THIS IS NOT GOING TO DIE QUIETLY.

This is a joke, but it not funny. Maybe it is time the read the anaimal abuse laws for the State of Florida and then enforce them. This is a felony case, no ands ifs or buts. If they don't get it have the contact the Broward Sheriff;s Office, they file these cases all them time. They have Detectives that work in a child abuse/animal abuse division. It is time that those that casuse the death of animals to be held accountable.

This kind of neglect and abuse of animals and children by the very authorities charged with protecting them goes on all over this country. Officials drag their feet as the innocent victims spiral downward and far too many die. All of the govt. employees and protection officers should have the same mandate as physicians of 'first do no harm'.

By leaving these helpless and starving horses in the very same abusive situation in which they found them is, in itself, a perpetuation of that abuse and neglect. All the blathering self-defense efforts by these offices is disgusting. The suffering animals should have been removed the first time a protection official saw the state they were in. Save the lives and then let all the bickering and bulldoody among the humans involved continue without putting the helpless animals in further jeopardy. This senseless mismanagement of abuse and neglect cases involving animals and children happens every day in America and is stupid and immoral on so many levels.

How many times does the ball have to be dropped? First by the Marion county animal control and now by prosecutors. These horses need justice to be done. To many times all anyone gets is a slap on the wrist. Its time for someone to step up to the plate and make sure justice is done and then maybe we'll see a decline in animal abuse.

Thank for the follow up story and being a voice for the horses that were abused, starved and in three of the horse case died from stravation. Isn't Ocala the Horse Capitol? What kind of animal control for the horses do they have in this county? I cannot understand why Animal Control will not take responsiblity and now do the right thing for these horses. Why would anyone work in Animal Control if you are not interested in justice for animals that are being abused. How many time did they go out to see theses horses do nothing and now are avoiding the truth. These horses near changed ownership. Please continue to follow this story until we get "Justice" and everyone involved before Beauty Haevn get charged with a Felony. Thanks Mel

Christy Jergens with Marion County Animal Services says,

"We were following our rules as far as giving the person a chance to remedy the situation and retain ownership, by law animals by law are personal property and so we need a sufficient reason to take someone's personal property from them."

Are you kidding my Christy?? How exactly do you think that the previous owner will "remedy" this situation? Dig up the carcas of the dead foal and try to bring him back to life. You need to do your job or you should be fired. There are many people looking for work right now in your state that I am sure would see fit to enforce the law that you have sworn to uphold. This just shows that Florida's enforcement of animal abuse and cruelty laws are a JOKE!

I have to set the record straight for you guys. Christy is only the front person, PR, person. Jill Lancon is the Director of Animal Control for Marion County. Jill is the one that was not pro-active in this case. Jill was aware of the situation and how critical it was back in March and early April and did nothing. According to AC they did present this case to the State Attorney and it was turned down, our question is: What the heck did they present? Why, after seeing these animals photos, some are very graphic, did AC not pursue it further? Instead, they just dropped it and were satisfied with the one misdemeanor count against Krystal Knirsch for her personal horse, not the others. AC should have been more addemant about getting the people actually responsible for this arrested. Which is Rachel Yonush, she had the care and control of these horses for most of the time this starvation was happening, she dumped these horses at Krystal Knirsch's property on or about April 16th. From April 16th to April 28th these horses were on Krystal's property, but Rachel was still responsilbe for their care. Ownership never changed. Todd Williams was the owner of Dingolay, her foal, Tonka, Brook's Approval and her foal, that was born at Krystal's. Both Brook and her foal, died after birth. Well Brook had to be humanely euthanized due to her horrendous condition. Dingolay and Tonka were in the later stages of starvation at that time, but AC did not seize them or even attempt to seize them. Instead the AC Officer gave them 3 more weeks to "remedy" the situation. During that time they got even worse! It wasn't until BH got a phone call from a concerned citizen and went to Krystal's property, did these horses get the help they so desperatedly needed a month ago! Theresa had to purchase the horses to get them out of the situation. Tonka died 4 days later, even after heroic attempts and lot's of money was spent trying to save him. Dingolay is doing very well today, as is Krystal's horse, Sienna. But they are only doing well because of Beauty's Haven's rescue purchase and weeks of rehabilitation.

Yes, they got worse while on Krystal's property, but they were already in horrible condition, due to Rachel Yonush, when they arrived at Krystal's. AC knows this.

Rachel Yonush is the one that started the starvation process and allowed it to continue. Todd Williams, as owner, also knew of the condition of his horses.

An AC Officer that primarily handled the case while the horses were at another location was extremely distraught about the situation and wanted something done, but as you can see, the story speaks for itself.

I would think AC would have wanted to remove these animals after the first complaint and subsequent fact, that a mare and foal were stumbling and the foal could not get up on his own. But they were given time to "remedy" the situation, and it is our belief, that that foal did not survive either.

Very sad.

This is more than disgusting, when the very people (AC)who are sent to protect these animals 16 days before they went to the rescue saw them in that deplorable condition did nothing.
What is this A VILLAGE OF IDIOTS ?
Those poor horses looked like they had been in a camp in Nazi Germany and animal control didn't remove them earlier from this SUB HUMAN owner.TODD WILLIAMS
Someone ,some politicians better get on the ball and take care of this because we vote.
This is beyond unacceptable and there has to be an investigation ASAP.
NO MORE will this kind of inaction be tolerated.
This little foal did not starve to death in vain

.The 4 month old foal suffered so badly due to starvation that quote
"He was so starved his teeth were ground down from the painful ulcerated condition of his stomach."
He later died at the Peterson and Smith Veterinary clinic in Ocala. after 4 days of intensive
veterinary procedures.

Robin MIles
Baltimore,MD

Those with the authority to rescue these horses failed miserably, in their duties. That charges were dropped is unforgivable. As long as cruel and mindless people are allowed to get away with causing such suffering - the longer these horrors will exist. To my way of thinking - the authorities who failed in their duties should be charged, also. And the person responsible for dismissing charges should find another occupation. This is about allowing the lowest common denominator to walk free. What about the law? Are laws without worth, in FLA?????
THANK YOU TO BEAUTY'S HAVEN FARM AND EQUINE RESCUE FOR THE WONDERFUL WORK YOU DO FOR ABUSED HORSES. You accept responisibility for irresponsibile people. Please continue to seek justice. Continue to set high standards, as I know you will do.

What a travesty of justice. I guess I get it -- AC stands for Animal Control, not Animal Care, so Control is all that is needed: animals -- which of course are only personal property like tables and footballs, not living creatures that feel pain, and suffer when they are tortured by withholding of basic sustenance -- that are dead are completely under control.

Way to go, Marion County. Hope you are all proud. This kind of publicity will bring new industry and taxpayers into your area in droves -- not!

To the current taxpayers: if these people are elected, please make this an issue in the next campaign, and see if you can effect a change!

First of all thank you for following this story but come on AC le'ts get the stroy right! Ownership of these animals NEVER changed just the location because Rachel Yonush got evicted from the porperty that she was leasing.

This is just horrible that these hores died becasue of neglect and that AC who gets PAID to do their job and shold have been the voices for the horses did not speak up. In my opion AC you did not do your job! Look at hte pictures again and tell me that this wasn't neglect. Surely this is a felony.

I don't know what this world is coming to but it's a shame that these lives were lost because of humans. You are the ones to enforce the laws AC & the State Attorney you should be ashamed of yourselves becasue I don't think those that owned these horses have a once of humnan compassion.

Marion County "The Horse Captial of the World" ??????????

It is amazing how people who should be protecting innocent animals from harm fail these animals time and time again. First, owners and caretakers willfully starve them and abandon their care, and then those whose jobs it is to see to it that neglected animals are rescued don't act at all, but instead give obviously criminally neglectful owners and caretakers chance after chance to change their ways. This almost never happens. The animals continue to suffer and die. Some system, huh? Christy Jergens and her ilk have no business being in the positions they currently have. I am sure that there are many deserving, kind people who would do a much better job than Jergens and her group. It would be hard to do a worse job. And the district attorney, whose job it is to prosecute law breakers is no better. Florida's so-called laws protecting animals are only as good as those who enforce them and we all have seen how inept and uncaring those folks seem to be. The Knishes and Todd Williams need to be aggressively prosecuted for many counts of animal cruelty and the death of these horses. Jergens needs to go. The State's Attorney needs to remember what his job is which is more than taking up space in a comfy chair. Animals are suffering and dying and these people can't seem to muster up enough energy to care. Marion County's handling of this case has been a disgrace from the very beginning and continues to be a disgrace today. God Bless Theresa Batchelor and those at Beauty's Haven. They are the only ones who stepped up to help end the terrible abuse that Williams and co. were handing out. People are fed up and angry at the "who cares," attitudes of so many people who are supposed to be helping but who offer little or nothing in the way of help. Animals are living, feeling creatures put on this Earth by God. He did not intend for them to be treated in an abusive, cruel manner. Shame on all who do things like this!!

Thank you for the follow up story but AC lets get the stroy straight! Ownership never changed is was the location only. Rachel Yonush & Todd Williams owned these horses. Location changed because Rachel was evicted from the propety that was being leased.

AC did not do their job and should have siezed the horses. The horse are the ones that suffered and lost their lives because of humans. AC you wer their voices and did not speak up for them nor did the State Attorneys office. Take a look at those pictures again and tell me they weren't neglected! This truly is a felony-read your laws again.

What is this world coming too! AC & the State Attorney office you sholud be ashamed of yourselves becasue the pepole that owned these horses do not have an once of human compassion. Then again maybe you don't either.

Make this right and charge them accordingly.......After all Marion county is the "HORSE CAPITAL OF THE WORLD'

Yeah, you're right, Bernel. Poor Christy is just the "front" person because Jill Lancon can't show her face, much less do her job. Jill delegates all her underlings to "do nothing" & then she gets to hide behind closed doors.

The thing of it is: Birds of a feather flock together.

And whose feathers are all of them trying not to ruffle? Certainly not animal lovers all over the country.

Personally, I don't know how any of them sleep at night.

Thank you for following the story. Thank you in advance for continuing to follow the story. As we know - these animals never changed hands. The ones that died deserve justice. Please keep up the presesure by keeping this in the public's attention.

This story touched many people. Many tears flowed in Chicago when Tonka passed and we continue to pray for the survival of Dingolay and Sienna as well as the prosecution of all who created and perpetuated this tragedy! BH stepped in and did the best they could and have continued to rescue horses from situations as pathetic as this. The laws must change.

Thank you ABC for following up on this story. Everyone in the Marion County Animal Services office and the attorney who dismissed the charges need to be FIRED. Floridians need to demand better services for their hard-earned taxes. To allow morons and people who don't care about prosecuting animal abuses is reprehensible and a waste of TAXPAYER'S DOLLARS! The Knishes and Todd Williams need to be charged as FELONS by the State Attorney's Office. People from all over the US are watching this case closely. Lawyers and Animal Control people are making a MOCKERY of state laws. Where the heck is the state legislature? Are lawmakers in the great state of Florida watching these moronic people make fools of themselves? If I were a lawmaker in Florida, I would be hiding under a rock!

This is completely unacceptable. What kind of staff do they have at this animal control agency that they would fail to seize horribly malnourished horses when they first discovered them. Giving the violators time to correct a situation is like rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic!!!! In their condition when they were finally bought by Beauty's Haven, they were on death's door and sadly, little Tonka's organs were already so damaged that he couldn't survivive. You want to give these miscreants "more time"? Bull$!t!!!!

You just didn't want to concern yourself with three dying horses is what it amounts to. What a pathetic excuse for animal care!!!!

While I am very glad that the two mares survived and continue to improve, I am completely outraged that charges have been dropped by the state attorney's office. Someone need to take this to a major news program and beg them to shine the light of scrutiny on those whose responsibility it is to enforce Florida's cruelty laws. This is simply a gross miscarriage of justice and every animal lover in Florida needs to demand that charges be re-filed.

Rest in peace , little Tonka! KNow that your sweet mom misses you but is growing stronger and more beautiful every day.

All of us who care will continue to work for justice in your sad and preventable death.

Is there no justice in this country? What more needs to be done to convince the authorities such gross neglience to these poor horses cannot be tolerated. The people involved need to dealt with severely.Who's to say they won't do it again? I pray not.

Thank God for Theresa Batchelor and her rescue group. If it weren't for her, I dread to think what would have become of Dingolay and Sienna.Poor Tonka wasn't so lucky.

The charges were dropped? That is disgusting! I have followed this story and am so upset that justice is not being served.

Thankyou ABC for continuing to follow up on this story.

It is unbelievable that those who are employed to protect their rights and preserve their lives are the same who allow their deaths! Animal control did nothing when they needed help and continue to do nothing, on the contrary they sit and allow for the pain and suffering to continue.

Animal Control why did you drop the charges? 5 horses are dead...5 lives that you allowed to suffer the pain of starvation. It is your responsiblity to see that they are cared for and brought back to health when a case is opened if not why are you there?

Ocala considered the horses capitol of the world?????????? And you allow for their abuse, neglect , starvation and deaths? Ocala, a dark cloud covers you with the staff you have in Animal Control. Shame on you AC....shame on you!

RIP Brooks Approval, her baby, and Tonka.

re: previous news coverage
Marion County Officials please take note!!!!!!
WE ARE STILL WATCHING
Do something!!! We are waiting. The taxpayers will be heavily lobbied in the next election.
That is a promise.
WE ARE STILL WATCHING!!!!!!

I think the animal control officers involved in this case should be FIRED. There are alot of people out there looking for work who will ACTUALLY do their job - no need to keep the idiots on the payroll when they do not even recognize an animal is suffering IN FRONT OF THEIR EYES. Perhaps they wanted to play nice as they do not like confrontation - well then you are in the wrong job. Shame on them and shame on the State Attorneys office who seem to be just as clueless or just do not really care when an animal is abused to the point that it dies. Way to go - protecting those who cannot speak for themselves. Why don't you all just quit and leave this job for someone who actually cares about the welfare of animals. You are a JOKE.

Ok I watch animal planet and horses are removed from people that do not even look half as bad as Dingolay, Sienna Rachel, and Tonka. The animal control officer sucks!!! She needs a different Job!!! Those horses should have been removed and the people fined at the first visit!!!! We need to write are ledgislature and have stiffer laws in effect for animal neglect and cruelity. I researched these horses Brooks Approval was a winning racehorse. Dingolay came from a nice farm. These poor horses!!! If you people are like me I cannot not get poor Tonka,s face out of my head, my heart breaks everytime I think about these horses. Maybe we should press charges on the mental suffering these people caused the general public seeing these emaciated horses suffer. Why didn't anyone from animal control check on these horses daily after the first visit. These horses needed vet care I'm sure, why did the animal control officer make sure that was taken care of. All the horses should have been taken to the vet clinic immediatly and the people fined. If the horses are that skinney and ill they need HELP!!!! How could anyone sleep at night knowing they left a living organism in that situation. You save the life first then you ask questions!!!

Dear Marion County Animal Control Office,
Do you have an update on the case? Is your office in Marion County going to file charges against Rachel Yonush and Todd Williams? Is the prosecutor's office going to prosecute these two people? Can't believe Yonush and Williams are going to get off without a charge. Are the BLOODY ANIMAL CRUELTY LAWS in Florida so filled with loopholes that these two people are not going to be charged? Do you realize that Florida's Marion County is the laughing stock of the country at this time? Do they really call this area of Florida the horse capitol of the world? Maybe it should be called the horse cruelty capitol of the world?

We have dealt with Christy Jenkins before, cruelty cases fall on deaf ears. She is NOT an animal advocate, quite the opposite. She is an over educated corporate wanna be who loves sitting at her desk and staring at the plaques on the wall. She is not an animal lover and she will not get her pale frail hands dirty. She should be fired. Marion County Animal Center needs a complete overhaul. They lie about cases and they lie about how many animals are killed at their facility. They should be called the Marion County Animal Kill Center. It is frustrating to know that this place is the only place to count on and to know that you just can't count on them.

Christy Jenkins...Jill Lancon......are they still employed by by the county????
The State Attorneys office...is it still functioning????
Come on people...don't let these public servants get away with this just because so much time has passed.
I pray the souls of the foals and horses haunt your every dream and waking moment. You all are worthless at your jobs....your organization is a JOKE. You rob the people by accepting a pay check.
You should be charged with derelection of duty. You are a large black eye for FL.. YOU ARE ALSO ABUSERS!