Dubois, age 26 of Manchester and Perron, age 38, have been charged with neglect of a thoroughbred race horse suffering from dehydration and starvation.

Dubois owned the horse named CeRoy, and Perron was the horses keeper.  They are scheduled for arraignment on the Class B misdemeanor charges in the Auburn District Court on July 14th.

Both could face a maximum fine of $1,00 and a split of the restitution costs.

CeRoy was rescued from 44 Brown Rd. in Deerfield.  In addition to the dehydration, CeRoy could barely walk because of leg injuries.  When removed, the horse weighed less than 600 pounds, about half the usual weight for horses of his age and size.  The horse was loose on a 50-100 acre debris-filled property with twisted wires, old car bodies and thousands of bee cans all over the place.  It is believed that CeRoy spent the harsh winter out in the snow and when he was found, Ceroy was standing in mud inches deep.

After the seizure, Dubois transferred ownership of the horse to the NHSPCA.  CeRoy has gained about 125 pounds and is doing some trotting and cantering.  A big improvement since being seized for this more than 20 year old horse.

Peter Saunders of the NHSPCA believed that CeRoy was living on a pound of hay a day when he was seized, adding a horse his size needs 20 to 24 pounds a day.  For CeRoy's recovery, he is being fed 4 times a day in small amounts for totals of 4 pounds of grain mixed with a corn-oil supplement and 40 pounds of hay.  He comes out of his stall for about 1 hour a day and the NHSPCA is monitoring the amount of grass he eats.  Eventually this will be extended to a full day as CeRoy recovers from his leg injuries.

Update 7/15/94:

Dubois plead guilty to a misdemeanor charge of animal cruelty.  Dubois was fined $1,000 with $500 suspended and placed on probation for 2 years by Auburn District Court Judge John Korbey.  Dubois was also ordered to pay $170 in restitution the the NHSPC.

Dubois said in court that he was working in Maine while his horse was suffering.  "It wasn't intentional".  Dubois said he purchased grain for CeRoy and he thought one of Perron's' children was going to care for the horse.  Dubois also said he doesn't blame Perron.  "It was my horse", "She shouldn't have been charged".

Perron of plead innocent to the misdemeanor charge and is scheduled for trial on August 11th.

CeRoy after spending 4 months with the NHSPCA recovering has been adopted.  Ceroy has regained about 7/8ths of his weight sine he was removed from the Perron property.

Reference:

The Union Leader