BEATRICE – A Gage County resident is targeting the county attorney in a recall petition effort….over a case involving neglected horses.

Kerri A. Jones has filed a petition with the Gage County Clerk’s Office, seeking to recall Gage County Attorney Roger Harris.   

Jones alleges failure to investigate animal neglect in the injury of 37 horses and the deaths of 17 of the animals.   Jones’ petition also claims there was failure to enlist qualified veterinary experts in equine parvovirus and the failure to consult with victims about what the petitioner contends were crimes committed by a local veterinarian who had the horses in her care. 

Jones also contends Harris failed to pursue funds to care for and rehabilitate horses and failed to communicate with the public, resulting in a loss of public trust.

Harris…in a statement on the petition….said the 37 horses were seized during an investigation ….and that funding was secured for the care of the horses.   They had been placed at a Saline County animal rescue prior to recently being auctioned.  Gage County used funds to help care for the horses, along with private donations that were received.

Harris says in his statement that investigating crimes is a sheriff’s responsibility….otherwise a prosecutor becomes a witness.  Harris says multiple veterinary experts indicated that equine parvovirus could have caused the symptoms observed in the horses…making criminal convictions virtually impossible.

Veterinarian Jennafer Glaesemann was initially cited for several counts of animal neglect last summer….after the horses that appeared malnourished were seized at veterinary clinics in Pickrell and Beatrice.  A civil agreement reached in the case bars Glaesemann from owning any horses in Gage County for a two-year period.

Recently, the remaining horses were sold at auction in Palmyra.

A recall election would require 2,275 valid signatures in the county, according to County Clerk Dawn Hill.