Starving horses, ponies, found in Ocala

Marion County officials say they will seize about 120 abused and malnourished horses, miniature ponies and donkeys from a resident.

[Nick]

Why do some people not have a conscience? I'm offended that people like this live on my planet--get off!

[Carol]

I hope that sentence, No charges have been filed, actually means no charges have been filed, YET. This woman should be charged for cruelty for every abused and starved horse and donkey she had on her property. It's appalling that someone would not provide food and proper care for their animals. I hope she gets fined and spends time in jail for what she did.

[Kathy]

If she couldn't take care of all these animals, why didn't she ask someone for help or give them to someone sooner before their condition got even worse?

[Pachacutec]

No charges have been filed....? Because? If that photo accompanying the article is of one of her horses, she should be charged with animal cruelty and neglect. After all, no one MAKES you get animals and they certainly have no choice as to who buys or adopts them. If you can't care properly for your animals, you shouldn't have them.

[Sidecar]

people are stupid and mean

[port tampa]

Ms Derby, I only wished they would have shown your photo, I can bet any amount of money that you have not gone one day without food, water and medical attention, from the bottom of my heart may you rot in hell for the miss-treatment of these beautiful creatures.

[Jenny]

Why wasnt she convicted? Too bad for people like that burn in hell

[LAV]

With all do respect, there isnt much of a story there. Who knows the womans situation. The price of gas now is starving me to death I couldnt imagine having to feed a bunckh of horses.
I hope she was seeking help and thats why this happend.

[Malobou]

LAV, I understand where you are coming from, but looking at the picture with the article, it is very clear that, that specific animal went a VERY long time without food!!!! It is plain neglect!!

[Linda B]

They need to punish this person for this crime. It is terrible to do this to any animial, how can people sleep at night and treat helpless animals this way.

[Danny]

LAV wrote:

With all do respect, there isnt much of a story there. Who knows the womans situation. The price of gas now is starving me to death I couldnt imagine having to feed a bunckh of horses.
I hope she was seeking help and thats why this happend.

Dont look like you are starving to death to me fat man.........that big mouth of yours just needs something stuffed in it (like my foot) to suppress your false appetite.

[Rahven]

I want to know why no charges have been filed on Francine Derby! This is a blantant case of animal abuse.

[Anonomomily]

Animal hoarding cases like these start out with the best of intentions. They love animals and want to help them, but eventually get too many because they feel they cannot say no to even one. Soon they are unable to care for any of them adequately, but don't feel they can ask for help because they would be taken away, and they don't think anyone else will treat them properly or perhaps will put them down. There is a definite mental illness aspect to this situation. It's not like she was running the horsey version of a puppy mill and profiting from their misery.

Also, people have probably been dumping animals on her for years, not bothering to check and see that she was able to care for them. They had to come from somewhere.

[Ann]

I have know Francine for several years, I tried to get her to listen to reason. Please do notgive her simpathy she never took in animals, she purchased every one, I know this for a fact. She would go to the auction and buy one with a bounced check, bring it home in the back seat of her car,which I might add she sould not have been driving as she has no license in the US, You see she is from Canada, and is here illegally. She has broken so many laws, but complains if she gets in to trouble. I am going to court to testify against her as she had my pony and he almost died, she would not give him back till a couple of months ago, she had 5 mini mares die two months ago alone as she only came around twice a week to feed. The ponies were trying to have thier babies but the were to big. They must have suffered terribly.

[tammy]

HELLO
WE PURCHASED A PONY FROM FRANCINE IN 04 SEVERLY EMANCIATED FEET WERE CURLED UP SHE TO THIS DAY WILL NEVER WALK CORRECTLY ON HER BACK LEGS. WE TURNED HER IN IN 04 CONTACTED RESCUES ALL OVER THE COUNTRY WHOM OFFERED HELP WICH SHE DECLINED. OUR DAUGHTER CALLS HER A MINI MILL. SHE PURCHASES HORSES FROM LOCAL AUCTIONS AND RESELLS THEM FOR HIGH PRICES. IF SHE WAS INOCENT WHY DIDN'T SHE STAY AND HELP THE ANIMAL CONTROL FEED AND WATER THE HORSES???? ALSO WHERE IS THE RECIEPT FOR THE SALE OF THE 65, AND HOW WAS SHE GOING TO SHIP THEM WITHOUT HEALTH CERTIFICATION OR COGGINS? IF YOU LISTEN TO HER IT IS ALL ABOUT HER NOT THE HORSES. SHE IS ONLY IN IT FOR THE MONEY NOTHING ELSE. WHEN SHE WAS UNDER INVESTIGATION BEFORE SHE WOULD DO THE BARE MINIMUM OR MOVE THE HORSES TO ANOTHER LOCATION THAT IS WHY THEY HAVE FOUND THEM IN SO MANY LOCATIONS. I HAVE BEFORE AND AFTER PICTURES OF PEACHES THAT WE PURCHASED FROM FRANCINE IF ANYONE WOULD LIKE TO SEE THEM FEEL FREE TO E-MAIL ME [e-mail]

[knighteyes]

Those poor animals, they should put her in a cage and not feed her for a long time.

[Anonomomily]

I stand corrected. My personal vision of hell has a special place for those who torment innocent animals...Looks like she's a good candidate.

[Ann]

Well hopefully the poor ponies are taken care of now. Francine is in Canada, which I might add she sneaked across the boarder like the little rat she is. She will get her 65 horses up there as I was told the 65 will be shipped to the man in Mich. There is no man. She lives right over the boarder. And those 65 were her favorites. The woman who wrote the news paper article should get some of the ponies, but not for the reason she thinks. Granetta gave Francine several hundred dollars to give Stanley for rideing her thourghbreds. She took Stanley's money and bought ponies and told Stanley Garnetta did not pay her. Francine was an illeagl alien, never paid a penny in taxes.

[mom]

Most likely all you people have nothing better to do and know nothing about nothing. The only pictures they showed where of old and sickly horses that where being treated. Ya'll evidently know nothing about live stock. Pasture stock is always hippy and maybe you should ride around the different counties and see all the stock that looks the same. I have pictures of all the stock and feed on the farm, before the county took the ponies. The ponies where being fed, but the quality of hay was bad. But you know it alls whould know that right. Changes had been made and the county still took them. In the bible it tells you not too judge people and also you need to get the facts or get the hell out. 90% of the horses where either fat of looked great the way they where. The county has killed four of the ponies when judge Cochrun quoted none were in such bad shape to require euthanasia. This is a legal way for the county to still this womans stock. The net worth is appoxamently over 60 thousand dollars.

[sales]

why waste them send them to the glue factory.