FIFE LAKE — Cora Wilson sees two dead horses sprawled in her neighbor's snow-covered pasture when she gazes out over her deck.
The horses died more than a month ago after being neglected and starved, county officials alleged. Wilson's neighbor, Danelle Marie Round, pleaded guilty last week to one count of abandoning or being cruel to two or three animals, a one-year misdemeanor.
Authorities removed five horses from the property in early January. Two horses, found in the pasture unable to rise, were euthanized on the spot and left.
"When I look out from my deck, that's all I see is that pasture and (the) horses lying there," Wilson said. "It's disgusting, to be reminded every day of how (the) horses died, watching them trying to get up."
State law requires farm animals to be buried or otherwise disposed of within 24 hours.
Grand Traverse County Sheriff Tom Bensley said he arranged to have the horses buried by a local excavator who Bensley said wants to remain anonymous. Bensley said he doesn't know exactly when the burial will occur.
"It's an unfortunate situation: A, that the horses were put down and B, that they weren't immediately disposed of, but it's been resolved," Bensley said.
Wilson hopes the county buries the animals before a warm spell hits.
"When it gets over 40 degrees ... the coyotes will start coming in, and I have my own animals to look after," she said.
Kevin Sandvig, a sheriff candidate, began working on the issue after learning from a newspaper article that the horses remained in the field. Sandvig said he found a local contractor who agreed to bury the animals, but county officials kept pushing him off to a different agency.
"Monday I was pulling my hair out dealing with the prosecutor's office, the health department and the sheriff," Sandvig said.
County officials said they didn't realize the horses remained in the field until Wilson complained to the health department on Feb. 8.
The health department, which runs animal control, turned Wilson's complaint over to county prosecutor Alan Schneider. Schneider said officials had two options: Obtain a search warrant and seize the horses, or get Round's permission to bury the horses on her property.
The health department passed it off to Bensley, who spoke with Round this week.
Initially, Round didn't want the horses moved, Bensley said, but she called back later and agreed. He arranged for the burial at no cost to Round or the county.
"It will be nice not to look out and see them," Wilson said. "That's one step closer to closure on this whole thing."
