A Windsor Mill man who, along with his wife, face charges that they abused their horses, says county officials are targeting them, countering that the animals were fed and well-cared for.

County State’s Attorney Scott Shellenberger filed three charges of animal cruelty against both Hilton and Donna Silver on May 6.

If convicted, both Hilton and Donna Silver face up to 90 days in jail and a fine of up to $1,000 for each charge.

Hilton Silver, 57, who is a criminal attorney, in a phone interview on Wednesday called the charges “ridiculous and an over-exaggeration, claiming the horses were well-cared for.

“They were all fed,” Silver continued, adding that hay and grain were on the property and available to the horses.

Donna Silver was issued three citations on March 25 after animal control officers found three malnourished horses on their 16-acre farm in the 7900 block of Frys Lane. Animal control recommended that the horses be turned over to a rescue organization.

 A few days later, those civil citations were rescinded in favor of a criminal investigation, Bill Toohey, Baltimore County Police spokesman, said in early April.

Officers on April 1 confiscated two malnourished horses in “obviously poor condition” from the couple’s farm, Toohey said at the time. A third horse was found lying on the ground and had to be euthanized, Toohey said.

In photos released by the Baltimore County Health Department in April, all three horses showed visible signs of malnutrition and the third house lying on the ground was surrounded by feces.

Donna and Hilton Silver told the animal control officer and a police officer that they knew the third horse was sick, but could not afford the $220 fee to have the animal euthanized, Toohey said in April.

A vet was later found who offered to euthanize the animal, he said.

Hilton Silver in the recent interview said the horse that was euthanized was not mistreated.

“It was 27 years old and dying,” Silver said Wednesday.

Silver said he believes police and animal control officials came to his farm after “someone complained about the horse that had fallen down and was dying.”

When an animal control officer went back to the house two days later to see if the horses had been taken care of, Hilton Silver became angry and yelled at the officers and ordered him to leave the property, Toohey said.

The horses were temporarily turned over to an unnamed rescue group, Toohey said.

Shellenberger said that the horses are still with the rescue group but that if the couple is convicted, prosecutors can ask the judge to permanently remove the animals — an option not available if the couple were charged in a civil citation.

The couple could also be ordered to undergo psychological counseling.

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user comments (2)

user timfromphoenix says...

You can lead a horse to food, but you cannot make him eat.

Posted 3:47 PM, 06.29.09

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user ponyboy says...

It's getting so even horses can't stay with Hilton. Acchh! What's this woild coming to?

Posted 1:22 PM, 08.18.09

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