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Humane Society to get 77 horses seized in Denton County
Seventy-seven once-starved Arabian horses soon will have new owners under an agreement reached between Denton County authorities and a Pilot Point man during a court hearing Wednesday.
Denton County sheriff’s animal officers seized the horses Aug. 14 from the Renazans Arabian Horse Ranch owned by Gordon Dennis Key, 66. Key faces a charge of cruelty to animals and is free on $10,000 bail.
Key was not at Wednesday’s hearing. His attorney, Rick Hagen, worked out the agreement with the Denton County district attorney’s office.
Key agreed to donate the 77 horses, one more than authorities originally thought they had, to the Humane Society, according to court documents.
Judge Joe Holland gave Key 10 days to bring all documentation for the horses to the court and to pay $5,000 in court costs and the costs of caring for the animals since they were seized, according to the documents.
Hagen said the agreement did not find Key negligent.
"This is not a case where a person had a willful desire to not care for an animal or was being intentionally cruel," he said. "He had no employees left. It was just one man doing the best he could for 77 horses. It was just impossible.
"He is an honorable man, and he really did care about the animals."
The Humane Society of North Texas, with the help of volunteers and donors, has cared for the horses since they were seized.
The animals are in good spirits and are gaining weight and confidence, volunteers said.
Dale Moulton, a horse trainer who has been working with the animals, said some of them have gained 200 pounds.
"It’s a good feeling to watch them," Moulton said. "They are the best Arabians I’ve ever seen. … My motivation is that I just love them."
Sandy Grambort, an official with the Humane Society, said members will begin organizing an adoption event to disperse the Arabians. Details will appear on the Humane Society Web site, www.hsnt.org, she said.
