VET ON PARAGALLO CASE: ALL OF THE HORSES HAD LICE
Veterinarian Dr. Jerry Bilinski testified that nearly all Thoroughbreds on Ernie Paragallo’s farm were malnourished to emaciation and were living in an environment infested with parasites.
Then come back to the Paulick Report and let us know what you think
Tags: bradford cummings, Climax Farm, Dr. Jerry Bilinski, ernie paragallo, lice, Paulick Report, thoroughbred
February 26th, 2010 at 7:50 am
Was he riding them bareback, naked? They were too boney for that.
February 26th, 2010 at 8:49 am
Historically, NY is lax when it comes to imposing jail terms on animal abusers. In a late 2008 case involving 82 horses in Troupsburg, Steuben County, a TB breeder in a plea agreement pleaded guilty to 2 misdemeanor counts of animal cruelty. Her sentence, 3 YEARS PROBATION and restitution.
The Judge ordered the defendant breeder to pay $45,000 in restitution to the Finger Lakes SPCA to reimburse the SPCA for rescue costs, vet services and foster care. Unbelieveably, the defendant was refusing to pay. IDK if any restitution was ever made. Ray/Brad this is something you can look into.
In another NY case in Albany county in June of 2008, involving 6 horses &2 dogs-including some TBs and stallions, a repeat offender who was a trainer pleaded guilty and received 3 years probation and a $100 fine. 11 years earlier, the repeat offender was sentenced to 60 days in jail and a $60,000 fine for cruelty to 19 TBs. According to a news article, a vet testified that the farm was a concentration camp for horses. Horses were emaciated, covered in lice and had abcessed hooves. Again, was the sentence an effective deterrent, was the fine ever paid?
Despite all the uproar from the TB community, does anyone here actually believe, if EP is found guilty, the sentence will be commensurate?
February 26th, 2010 at 9:01 am
I bet Joe Taylor is rolling in his grave. Joe’s book refers to good quality, nutritious hay in sufficient quantity to maintain good health, which is the mainstay of a healthy equine diet. Never is it stated that a lactating/pregnant/underweight horse should not receive grain.
February 26th, 2010 at 9:31 am
Lets not forget the trainer that left Huggable Tom in a stall at Belmont Park to stave to death years ago, and he still trains horses what a farce
February 26th, 2010 at 9:40 am
Kasey,
Sorry I’m not familiar with that situation.
IMO, anyone and everyone, who witnesses or even hears rumors about abuse, and turns away is part of the problem.
February 26th, 2010 at 9:50 am
OMG! What a living POS!!!!! BTW, at least with crap you can render it…not so with human POS.
This is just sick, sick behavior….but I’m sure the industry and judge, his attorney will find a way to minimize it. And the time he was livin’ high on the hog!…or would that be the horses?
Just F’ing sick!
February 26th, 2010 at 10:40 am
If Mr. Paragallo testifies that this is not is fault because his farm manager didn’t do the proper job, I may have to jump in the truck, drive to New York, and slap the ever living cr@p out of him myself. Holy cow.
February 26th, 2010 at 11:46 am
If Paragallo isn’t convicted and sentenced appropriately - substantial jail time and huge fines - the TB community should raise hell.
February 26th, 2010 at 12:35 pm
I have one of his former horses appropriately named Nightintheslammer.
Let’s hope that the name was picked for a reason.
Passing blame onto anyone else but himself for the neglect of HIS horses at HIS own farm is lunacy.
February 26th, 2010 at 4:16 pm
I like how the writer says,
“Paragallo, former breeder of 1996 Kentucky Derby favorite Unbridled’s Song, has been charged with 35 misdemeanor animal cruelty charges of failure to provide proper sustenance. The maximum penalty is two years in jail and $1,000 per charge.”
Probably just a wording error by a writer who doesn’t know the horse business, but seems to imply that somehow he lost or sold the title of “breeder.” lol
February 27th, 2010 at 9:53 pm
The person at the farm who called the vet to euthanize horses could have called the police,the newspapers,etc before the horses started dying. I think since he was in charge at the farm he should suffer also. When somebody hires a killer both the killer and the person who hired the killer go to prison. By underfeeding or not feeding all the horses he was killing them slowly.Paragallo was not ignorant of how much or what type of feed his horses needed. He had been paying for feed for years. From $1800. per month dropping to zero for grain and a much smaller of amount of hay than they needed sounds like he did this on purpose because he thought it would save him money and eliminate unwanted horses. He most likely knows that others who did the same thing got no jail time and does not think he will get any either.