Published: September 19, 2008 12:16 pm            

SPARKS: Old horses get good care at Spark’s, defense says

“It may not be what everyone wants,” said veterinarian Robert Harper, “but he’s doing a nice job.”

During Tuesday’s testimony at the Peter Sparks animal cruelty case on Grand Island, Harper, who’s known the defendant for years and just visited the public riding stables three weeks ago, went further.

"Mr. Sparks is a very caring fellow and he takes excellent care of his livestock,” said Harper, co-owner of the Grand Island Small Animal Hospital on Whitehaven Road.

Last Thursday, the Erie County SPCA presented evidence, including testimony from Dr. Jean Feldman, a veterinarian specializing in the treatment of large animals, that 12 horses and five sheep were “emaciated” upon the agency’s arrival at the ranch Aug. 12.

Since then, the animals — which are “doing better, gaining weight and making improvements to their health,” according to SPCA animal cruelty investigator Beth Shapiro — have been tallying a bill of $164 a day. However, due to ongoing litigation, SPCA officials could not disclose specifics.

The result of Tuesday’s defense presentation — which focused on expert testimony Sparks’ animals were in good health despite some being elderly, had competent staff taking care of them and plenty of available options for feed and grazing — was to determine if Sparks would have to put up a $10,000 bond for the boarding of his animals or if they’d be returned.

Testimony started at 4:30 p.m. and went well past midnight.

Upon cross-examination, SPCA attorney Thomas Viksjo made a point of Harper’s earlier statement his work with large animals was “very limited” and his last large animal examination three years ago.

However, among large animals, horses were Harper’s area of expertise.

Another veterinarian for the defense, Dr. Donald Lewis, however, was presented as a horse expert.

The owner of the Randleigh Animal Hospital in Lockport — with degrees in biochemistry and veterinary science — accompanied Sparks to the SPCA’s Ensminger Road location to examine the seized animals.

“All the sheep were in one stall,” Lewis said. Since the sheep were in a stall designed for a horse, ventilation for the short animals was “much less than inadequate,” he said, adding, it was an 82-degree day.

Town Justice Mark Frentzel will have to sift through the dozens and dozens of pieces of photographic evidence and scientific papers — some disputed by the defense as being undocumented and pulled from the Internet — as to whether Sparks will pay the almost $10,000 bond or get his animals back.

His daughter, 20-year-old Tina Sparks was also among the 11 scheduled witnesses for the defense.

In addition to being around and caring for horses her whole life, Tina Sparks graduated from Morrisville College with a two-year degree in equine science and management.

She testified the horses always had access to a variety of feeds and pellets.

That’s necessary because as horses get older, their ability to chew feed and digest it diminishes, Lewis said.

“The older a horse gets, the harder it is to keep weight on,” he said. “Just like with people.”

Another witness, horse trader William Hopkins, said Sparks routinely bought older horses from him for their “gentle” nature.

Since horse slaughterhouses are illegal in the United States, many older eastern seaboard horses have nowhere to go when owners can no longer care for them, he said.

“Peter Sparks is a first-class gentleman,” Harper said.

“It’s wonderful to have a riding stable in the community and he’s an asset to the community.”

Although a ruling on the bond issue was expected Friday, attorney Wesp said regarding the larger criminal charges against Sparks, “It’s not even the end of the beginning."

        

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