Texas woman gets bread and water for horse cruelty

[Liebe]

HOUSTON, Texas (Reuters) -- A Texas woman convicted of neglecting her two horses will get only bread and water for the first three days of a 30-day jail sentence, a judge said Tuesday.

The Old West-style punishment was fitting for a crime in which Melissa Dawn Sweeney, 28, treated the horses "deplorably," County Court at Law Judge Mike Peters said.

"I used to think back to the time when jail was jail and punishment was punishment, and how they were put in solitary confinement with only bread and water to eat. That was in the back of my mind," he told Reuters.

Sweeney, a former stable worker, was convicted Friday of cruelty to animals for leaving her two horses unfed and unsheltered for four months outside her mobile home in Baytown, Texas, the Houston Chronicle said.

Peters said the horses were more than 200 pounds underweight and in poor health.

"The animals were literally starved," he said. One of them had to be euthanized, while the other recovered under the care of a new owner.

Sweeney testified that she fed the animals and treated them well but said they were in poor condition because they were old.

Peters also required Sweeney to post a photo of the malnourished horses in her jail cell.

"I want her to be forever reminded of what her conduct did to those horses," he said.


I think the punishment is too light.

[ShawnLee]

Hahahahaha! Bread and water! That's awesome.

[kei2]

I think the punishment is too light.

Yeah it'd be better if she was starved for four months like the horses were, but society would deem that cruel and unusual punishment.

[Liebe]

Yeah it'd be better if she was starved for four months like the horses were, but society would deem that cruel and unusual punishment.

I really wish that those who were dealt out cruel and unusual pain would have a different definition for what is cruel and unusual when they get their punishment.

[ialsohaveadream]

Maybe she'll be like NWA and "still get swole off bread and water"?

[Nanotech9]

i donno - i'm not into this whole cruelty to animals punishment thing...

although personally, instead of leaving the horses w/o food for four months, i would've just shot them in the head. but thats just me.

probably one of the reasons i'll never own an animal... because you can be held personably responsible for the actions of that animal, even though its a dumb beast and is not fit to represent you or your personal beliefs.

[bachviet]

Good diet for her.

[faither]

Not a bad idea for all folks in jail. Probably save a few bucks. That and remove the cable TV and maybe there'd be a real consequence for their actions.

[guiseppewv]

Not a bad idea for all folks in jail. Probably save a few bucks. That and remove the cable TV and maybe there'd be a real consequence for their actions.

No pleasantries at all. Just the letter of the law. A sanitary room with a roof over your head. The cheapest and most basic health food. Maybe beans and rice for all meals and add some beef or chicken for dinner.

[johnnymk]

i donno - i'm not into this whole cruelty to animals punishment thing...

although personally, instead of leaving the horses w/o food for four months, i would've just shot them in the head. but thats just me.

probably one of the reasons i'll never own an animal... because you can be held personably responsible for the actions of that animal, even though its a dumb beast and is not fit to represent you or your personal beliefs.

Count it as a blessing that you don't own an animal.