Date: Tue, Dec 16, 2008 at 9:12 AM
To: Terry Lee, Tim Farrell, Calvin Goings, Barbara Gelman, Dick Muri, Roger Bush, Shawn Bunney
cc: Pat McCarthy Pierce County Auditor
Subject: Valor Video + Hope for Horses


Dear Members of the Pierce County Council,

I spoke last Tuesday at the Council Meeting regarding my concern with Pat McCarthy and the Auditors office, Animal Control and their relationship with the group Hope For Horses. I had promised a video, so you could see the faces to the names. Let me briefly go over how I became involved with this seemingly insignificant issue.

On December 31st 2007, I received a emergency call from PC Animal Control asking me to pick up two of the most seriously injured/abused horses out of a group of 15. One, a stallion we named Valor, and a 6 month old colt we named Teddy. PCAC received my phone number from a local veterinarian named Jack Gillette, not my regular vet, but he is familiar with my farm and the care my horses receive. On January 3rd, in a meeting in PCAC Lisa Drury's office, I was told by PCAC officers present I could adopt the two horses, if, after 15 days- no criminal charges had been filed and the alleged abusers did not post bond, which ended up being the case. I made it clear we wanted to adopt them. There were approx. 9 people present, including Legislative Asst. to State Rep.Dawn Morrell, Nancy Parsons and Kim Koon, representing Posada's Safe Haven, a concerned neighbor to 96th & Waller Rd. and her best friend, Diana Martin. Also at the meeting was Jenny Edwards of Hope for Horses.

We gave these horses intensive care and love. I spent over $700.00 of my own money with no intention of getting reimbursed or receiving money for their care. I kept meticulous records understanding criminal charges were involved. The horses were taken on Jan. 19th, unethically, and unlawfully- with absolutely no consideration for them, and taken to Hope for Horses. I then placed an agister's lien on the two horses so they wouldn't be sold, euthanized, or adopted out.

After reviewing records from PCAC I was stunned to read AC Lisa Drury's inaccurate dictated versions of her accounts of the facts. In a closed door meeting held by Pat McCarthy on January 25th, with PCAC staff, Jenny Edwards, Al Rose, Mary Schmidtke, and the veterinarians on the case, I was asked by Pat McCarthy to sit outside in the hall. She let me in the meeting toward the end of it. Dr.Gillette had called me prior to and insist I be at that meeting.

If you look at a copy of the letter Ms. Edwards submitted to the council with mine and Dr. Hagerman's rebuttal (in the packet I gave each council member) she made several reference's minimizing the medical condition of the two horses that were in my possession. This is just one example of her "protecting" PCAC officers and staff as they received much criticism from their handling of this case.

Ms Edwards wanted these two horses in my possession for several reasons. She only takes horses that are impounded and criminal charges are involved. She get's paid by the County for board, then fosters them out. She then receives court ordered restitution (I always thought the victim received restitution) from the horse owner. She also receives money from matching payroll funds at Microsoft, Boeing, State Employees, and Starbucks. She also solicits grants, donated items, and other endless self promotional money making endeavors.

Sometime midsummer Ms. Edwards boasted on her website that she was working with the County on developing a contract for horse rescue/case management. The County is still currently using Hope for Horses, even after the deplorable condition that Valor and Valor and Teddy came back in. On April 1st, I signed an agreement/release with Pat McCarthy's attorney, Al Rose, for the horses' return. HFH refused to release the colt, Teddy, to me. Mr. Rose appeared to support the endless excuses Ms. Edwards would come up with for not releasing him to me (I was the legal owner). He was finally released to me 4 weeks later.

As a postscript to Valor, he will likely need a penile amputation and reconstructive surgery. WSU Veterinary College has agreed to do the surgery, costs will be in the $3,000.-$5,000. range.


Thank-you for your attention in this matter,

Respectfully,


Rose Corey

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