Posted by NtzMom55 (anonymous) on November 6, 2007 at 1:58 a.m. (Suggest removal)

THANK YOU SO MUCH Natchez Humane Society for doing the right thing. Such a misfortune that the society has the $12,000 bill to tend with. Ms. Cox, I feel that the law should permit the former owner(s) property be siezed to help pay for the expense. None the less, I'm hoping many will come through with enough donations to ease the burden from the Humane Society. I sure wish I had the 12K for you.
God Bless you all for everything you do to help God's unwanted critters. I know you can count on my donation coming soon.

Hey folks, get out and VOTE! VOTE!! VOTE!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted by beammeupscotty (anonymous) on November 6, 2007 at 6:54 a.m. (Suggest removal)

A good way to raise money would be to take the owners , tie them to a wall and sell stones to be thrown at them. Maybe hand out little dolls for a good hit in the head.

Posted by jch (anonymous) on November 6, 2007 at 7 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Great job Humane Society. This should show everyone just how much the Human Society does for this community. God Bless you and everyone lets help them out with this bill.

Posted by thelorax (anonymous) on November 6, 2007 at 9:19 a.m. (Suggest removal)

It is unreal what we as humans will do to animals. They love us unconditionally and look how we treat them.
Unreal.

Posted by myopinion (anonymous) on November 6, 2007 at 10:24 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Maybe the justice system will make an example out of these people and actually put them in jail!

Posted by mcmy (anonymous) on November 6, 2007 at 10:26 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I think the owners of the horses should have to pay this bill....can't they be forced to? Why didn't the owners give them away instead of starving them? They are despicable people and should have to be held accountable for what they've done.

Posted by dottie (anonymous) on November 6, 2007 at 10:46 a.m. (Suggest removal)

This is so sad. I am an animal lover with every fiber
of my being. I have no mercy for anyone that will abuse/neglect any animal. They are all God's creation. I will be calling 601-442-4001 and making
my donation today. I hope many others of you will
contribute and please remember, no donation is to
small as every dollar counts. God bless these wonderful people and the work they do.

Posted by horselover (anonymous) on November 6, 2007 at 11:24 a.m. (Suggest removal)

The owners of those horses & goats need to go back to New Mexico where they came from. They are now welcome in this town.

Posted by horselover (anonymous) on November 6, 2007 at 11:25 a.m. (Suggest removal)

The owners of those horses & goats need to go back to New Mexico where they came from. They are not welcome in this town.

Posted by NtzMom55 (anonymous) on November 6, 2007 at 11:31 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Hey beammeupscotty: I'll give $100 for the first stone and $50 for the head butting doll.

Folks, please help the Humane Society with your donations for a well worthy cause.

Don't forget to VOTE! VOTE!! VOTE!!!!!!!!!!

Posted by thetruthhurts (anonymous) on November 6, 2007 at 12:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)

This is such a heart warming article.. I love to hear of good things going on in the community. It warms my soul. It makes me think for a split second, that perhaps the world isn't totally lost yet afterall. I am not an animal lover, but I could not mistreat one at all... I have fussed with people over mistreating their pets. It sickens me... These people should never be allowed to own pets or have children. Believe me, if they don't have respect and love for their animals enough to beat them and neglect them, they do it to their children and loved ones also... I was married to one.

Posted by Modiemas (anonymous) on November 6, 2007 at 3:20 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Will these animals be available for adoption soon,
I wonder????

Posted by 2girls (anonymous) on November 7, 2007 at 7:09 a.m. (Suggest removal)

3 of the 4 of them already have homes. The only one left that needs a home is Hope, the one in the picture above. She is a very sweet horse who loves attention, but she is going to need someone who can really give her the time, attention, and devotion she so desperately needed before this happened.

Posted by HappyAppy (anonymous) on November 7, 2007 at 7:50 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I would love to give Hope the loving home she needs. I have 4 horses, 2 of which are special needs horses. And all are Appaloosa. I would like to know who to contact to set that up, does any one know?

Posted by myopinion (anonymous) on November 7, 2007 at 8:51 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Have you tried caling the Humane Society?

Posted by 2girls (anonymous) on November 7, 2007 at 9:03 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I am pretty sure it is the Humane Society.

Posted by beammeupscotty (anonymous) on November 7, 2007 at 9:35 a.m. (Suggest removal)

You have a good heart HappyAppy. I once had horses and know of the expense to keep them.

Posted by dottie (anonymous) on November 7, 2007 at 11:12 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I was unable to make my donation yesterday and again
this morning. I'm calling the correct# 601-442-4001,
but I can't understand the recording I'm getting and
neither can my husband. I would appreciate one of you, perhaps living locally, calling the Humane Society and then posting the info you get from this
recording. Please do this for me and I thank you.

Posted by myopinion (anonymous) on November 7, 2007 at 12:22 p.m. (Suggest removal)

The recording says-

Hey this is the Natchez Adams County Humane Society. Our business hours are from 2-5 Monday thru Friday. Please leave a message.

You are right dottie it is very difficult to understand. The gentleman is speaking very quickly as well. I hope you can get thru during business hours.

Posted by nan (anonymous) on November 7, 2007 at 12:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)

First of all, on behalf of the Natchez Adams County Humane Society, let me thank all of you for your support and concern about these animals. They have been breaking our hearts for months. We do not understand how people can treat animals in this matter, even though it is something that we deal with on a regular basis. We are extremely blessed that there are so many people like you in this area who are cut out of the other side of the mold, without you we could not make it.
When we talked to the Democrat the other day we told them the whole story about these animals, and they simply did not have room to print it all. We received temporary emergency custody of these horses on June 1 of this year. We took into custody four horses (one stallion, three mares) and four pygmy goats. We have followed the laws and procedures necessary to gain custody and we have one step left. In regard to a previous comment by someone, please let me assure you that none of these animals has been placed with anyone on a permanent basis. We do not own these animals. We have four goats and two of the mares at a "society friendly" farm, the stallion (Pedro) is under our daily care at another "society friendly" farm, and Hope is still at Miss Lou vet, where she will remain for several weeks. Last week the Judge, pursuant to the law, gave us a lien against the animals for our debts and ordered us to sell the animals at public sale. This means that we will advertise them for sale in the newspaper and we will hold a sale. This type of sale is somewhat like a foreclosure where the bank buys the house it is foreclosing on. I feel pretty sure that no one is going to bid over $12,000 for these animals. If we buy them at the sale, and get people to help us get the bill paid, then we can place them in good homes for life. This way they can be adopted and not have a big debt associated with them.
As to contacting the Humane Society, our employees are actually there in the morning but they are cleaning and feeding and do not normally answer the phone until the afternoon. If you would like to make a donation for Hope, Pedro and the others, or if you would like to talk to someone at the Natchez Adams County Humane Society about these horses and goats, please feel free to call me at 601-442-2156 (home); 601-445-5698 (office) or Pat Cox at 601-442-7890.
Finally, if there is a question that you have that I have failed to answer, please write back and I will see if I can help you. Nan

Posted by horselover (anonymous) on November 7, 2007 at 2:05 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I am so glad that those horses are not going to be given back to the Ridgaways, they have no business owning any animals.

Posted by dottie (anonymous) on November 7, 2007 at 2:49 p.m. (Suggest removal)

myopinion
Thank you so very much for answering my post. I felt
confident someone would come through for me.

Posted by myopinion (anonymous) on November 7, 2007 at 3:55 p.m. (Suggest removal)

no problem dottie. Hopefully Nan read all the comments and will do something about the answering machine there.

Posted by thetruthhurts (anonymous) on November 7, 2007 at 4:43 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Good job myopinion... Good luck Dottie.

Posted by 2girls (anonymous) on November 7, 2007 at 5:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Ok. I just wanted to say sorry... Upon thinking about it a little more, I do believe that I was told "foster" homes. I do apologize for the misunderstanding. It was early and I was tired and have had alot going on recently. Again, I am sorry...
And as a side note, I really do hope that these animals do find a permanent home soon. I am relived they are not going back to the people who did such terrible things to them to begin with. Hopefully, the new caretakers of these animals will be just that. Caretakers. There is no reason imaginable that any creature should ever have to endure what these beutiful creatures have.

Posted by storm_cangemi (anonymous) on November 7, 2007 at 7:20 p.m. (Suggest removal)

ms. nan is right! the owners of the two horses were terrible people who cared nothing for their horses. they had twelve other horses that were in the same shape that they moved before the humane society could see them. i am one of the people taking care of two of the horses and the four goats. they look wonderful since they are in my care. these animals are very happy now. gene and vicki ridgaway should never be allowed to keep animals again!

Posted by peacerulz (anonymous) on November 7, 2007 at 7:53 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I just did a search for Debbie Palmers name. I did not know if she had been sentenced to any time for horribly abusing a number of horses. I'm glad to see that she got 8 months and I hope she has to serve every bit of it.

Posted by dottie (anonymous) on November 7, 2007 at 9:19 p.m. (Suggest removal)

It thrills my heart to read these comments and know so many of you care. I've learned I can make my donation over the phone by using a credit card. I
plan to donate directly to the Vet's office. The #
is 1-318-336-5306. I'm not able to give a lot, but
I know any amount will help offset this debt. Besides
when we give to such a worthy cause, we are blessed.
I hope others will join me by giving any amount you
can. I further hope the owners of these animals are
prosecuted and punished severely for the cruelty they
have inflicted. I know many of you agree with me and
I say, GOD BLESS YOU.

Posted by HappyAppy (anonymous) on November 8, 2007 at 7:54 a.m. (Suggest removal)

peacerulz, yeah but she gets out on weekends to go to work and all the horses are still there. I have not seen where any of the horses have left the leeve. and to me some look on the very lean side. but if ya saw my horses you would think they are to fat, even my barrel horse, lol.

Posted by horselover (anonymous) on November 8, 2007 at 10:01 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Being horse & pet owners ourselves my husband and myself are outraged at the neglect these animals received in the hands of these horrible people. Gene & Vickie Ridgaway supposedly own a 1,000 acre ranch & property in Texas, there is no excuse for the neglect the animals have suffered. It is public record that they received a settlement for the house that they were renting in Vidalia, LA caught fire, and that not being satisfied with that settlement are presently in a law suit for more money. The Ridgaways need to be held accountable for the neglect of their animals. Pet owners have a responsiblity to their pets, just as parents have a responsiblity to their children. If a parent neglects a child, that child is taken away and the parent put in jail. An example need to be made here, just because they are animals does not mean this neglect is acceptable. The Humane Society needs to sue the Ridgaways for what ever amount acrues for nursing their animals back to health. This is not humane behavior for a pet owner. They are not wanted in this town, and need to go back from where ever they came from.

Posted by horselover (anonymous) on November 8, 2007 at 10:37 a.m. (Suggest removal)

We find it very suspectous that people who supposedly own a 1,000 acre ranch in New Mexico, & property in Texas haul all these around with them. Gene Ridgaway is supposed to be a retired law enforcement officer, if this is so why are they here in Natchez renting and moving all these animals around. Why have they been here all these years and get away with driving vehicles with New Mexico tags. What or whom are they hiding from.

Posted by dottie (anonymous) on November 8, 2007 at 10:59 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I couldn't agree more with the above comment. I don't
know any of the details, but I do know enough to have
an opinion. Only a low-life, despicable person would
confine an animal and then deprive it of food and
water. How these animals have suffered and over an
extended period of time. I know you have a law against animal cruelty. Does anybody know why this
law hasn't been enforced and these people arrested?
Could it be politics? I hope the Natchez Democrat will report further on this article.

Posted by horselover (anonymous) on November 8, 2007 at 11:19 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Animals have rights too. An example needs to be made of the Ridgaways, people should not be allowed to neglect their animals to the point these people did and get away with it. It is summer, and all six of my horses have big grass bellies, for these horses to be in the condition they are in, they had to be put somewhere with no grass, which if that was the case they should have been given hay and grain regularly, this is a sure case of neglect. The Ridgaways should be put in jail and made to pay the bill for the animals they have neglected.

Posted by freedom42 (anonymous) on November 8, 2007 at 3:34 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I may be wrong, but I know that several years ago I was told that there is NO law in Ms. about animal rights, and no way to prosecute inhumane people for animal neglect, other than as a misdemeanor, which carries very light fines. I would love to be a Humane Inspector like we see on Animal Planet. I could kick some you know what and be so happy doing so.

Posted by horselover (anonymous) on November 8, 2007 at 4:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Nan, is this right, that there is NO law in MS for animal rights. Something needs to be done about that, if this is true. I hope freedom42 is wrong, that is just too backwards.

Posted by nan (anonymous) on November 8, 2007 at 7:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Sorry to take so long to get back to you all on this but I just got a little busy today and did not have time to keep an eye on your comments. YES we do have several animal cruelty laws. Some deal with livestock, some deal with domestic animals, and some deal with wild animals. While they are not specifically titled "animal cruelty" laws, they are about treating animals cruelly and or depriving them of necessary sustenance (food, water, shelter and medical care if needed). It is true that most of the statutes are misdemeanor criminal statutes, but they can be very serious and expensive. In the current case, when we were made aware of the condition of these animals I chose to use the statute which is the fastest, and only, way to get immediate custody by emergency order. This is a civil (ie not criminal) statute which involves civil penalties, like the loss of certain liberties...like losing your animals and having to pay their bills. I too believe that the owners of these animals should be responsible for the cost of their boarding and medical care, however, my PRIMARY objective is to remove the animals from harm...immediately. In regard to the owners paying these expenses...we have to accept that this is not very realistic. We will certainly be granted a judgment against these people for our expenses, that is not the problem. The problem is in ever collecting it. I cannot collect a judgment from someone when I do not know where they are, or if they have the money to pay it.
When we went to court the first time the owners were present and I introduced into evidence a stack of photographic exhibits showing the condition of the horses. I tried to send them certified letters, which came back. I tried to have them served by a deputy and he was told by a neighbor that they had moved out of town, and finally I published a notice in the Democrat. The second time we went to court the owners did not show up, and I was not the least bit surprised. While this is totally speculation on my part, the odds were pretty high that if they had shown up they very well may have been arrested on criminal charges for violation of several of the animal cruelty statutes I referred to above.
While this is infuriating to some of you, it is something that happens quite often to us at the Humane Society. We have to remember that our main goal is to protect the animal, above all else. We have a had a dozen injured pit bulls brought or left at our shelter....we have never known who any of the owners were. If you think about it, the person who refuses to take the responsibility of taking care of his animals is certainly not going to hang around and take responsibility for their debts.

Posted by dottie (anonymous) on November 8, 2007 at 8:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)

nan Thank you so much for your above post. You answered a lot of my questions. I appreciate being
better informed. It sounds like all your efforts have
brought you to a brickwall. I try to pray for people
like the Ridgaways, but I have my moments of anger too. It is a good thing I'm not the one to dish out
their justice. Animal cruelty would soon become a
thing of the past.

Posted by freedom42 (anonymous) on November 8, 2007 at 10:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Thanks Nan, as I said this was several years ago, so I am glad we have laws to help animals now. There is no reason to have an animal if you are not going to give it even basic care and attention. My dogs, cats, horses, and chickens are my best friends, the ones I can always trust. I could never let them down.

Posted by storm_cangemi (anonymous) on November 8, 2007 at 10:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)

hey ms. nan if you need anthing or need to get in touch with me just call pop and he can give you my cell number and all of the animals are doing great for all of you concerened. they have really made a turn for the best. just be a good citizen and help the humane society
pay this BILL!

Posted by HappyAppy (anonymous) on November 9, 2007 at 8:30 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I beleive in Karma, and truely beleive that people will pay for their mis-deeds. It may take time but one way or another these people will pay for what they have done (or should I say havent done.)

Posted by horselover (anonymous) on November 13, 2007 at 10:21 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Ms. Nan, thank you for answering my question. It sounds like you are on top of things and doing a very good job. The last news we had on the Ridgaways they were renting here in Natchez, after the house in Vidalia they were renting; burned to the ground. And the Gene Ridgaway worked in the lab at Community Hospital, don't know if that helps, and you probably already have this information, but just in case you don't. I personally hope they went back to Texas or New Mexico and never come back to this area ever again. We don't need that kind of trash living here.