Montana ranch owner, 57, is charged with animal cruelty after ‘he left 230 cows to starve’, sparking cops to call $100,000 clean-up amid coronavirus pandemic ‘lousy timing’
- George J. Savoy, 57, was taken into custody Tuesday and charged with aggravated animal cruelty
- Passersby spotted the black angus herd strewn across the Montana landscape
- Some were pregnant. Many were unable to move and covered in bird droppings
- County funds spent on animal care is estimated to cost up to $100,000
- ‘Talk about lousy timing for something like this,’ Commissioner Joe Briggs said
- Coronavirus symptoms: what are they and should you see a doctor?
A central Montana man has been charged with aggravated animal cruelty after 230 cows were found starving in the middle of calving season, including 65 that were found dead.
George J. Savoy, 57, was taken into custody Tuesday after people who drove by his property – located about 40 miles southwest of Great Falls – reported seeing the dead cows, the Great Falls Tribune reported.
The area was reportedly filled with a horrible stench and animals were strewn across the landscape with many unable to move and covered in bird droppings.
The Cascade County sheriff’s office, public works and the state Department of Livestock responded to the scene Tuesday to remove carcasses – some from a stream – and feed the surviving animals.
Cascade County Sheriff Jesse Slaughter performs an interview on a property where a herd of roughly 230 starving cattle were found Tuesday
A total of 65 cows lay dead all presumed starved to death at a ranch west of Cascade, Montana
The land is ‘grazed down to the dirt,’ Capt. Scott Van Dyken said, noting the animals had no available food.
Several of the animals are pregnant.
‘Some of these moms, you could walk right up to,’ Deputy County Attorney Jennifer Quick said. ‘They couldn’t get up they were so weak.’
An investigator for the Montana Department of Livestock’s Great Falls district said it was the worst case of animal cruelty involving cattle that he had seen.
‘I haven’t seen one this bad,’ Paul Johnson, said from the scene.
Three other properties owned by Savoy were being checked, authorities said.
‘This is a big disaster,’ Cascade County Sheriff Jesse Slaughter said about the starving black Angus herd. ‘I know this community is going to want to help. And you know what? We need their help.’
The carcass of a dead cow lies in a pasture on Mission Road with bird droppings all over it
An emaciated cow waits to be fed. It could cost $27,000 per month to feed them and $100,000 in total to pay someone to move them and care for them
It’s unclear how the situation came about but it comes amid the coronavirus pandemic when many people may not be able to help due to reduced incomes and social distancing measures.
In Montana there are 217 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 6 deaths out of Toole, Madison and Lincoln counties.
‘Talk about lousy timing for something like this,’ Commissioner Joe Briggs said.
Cascade County Attorney Josh Racki said he planned to file an animal welfare petition to seize the herd and possibly be reimbursed for county funds spent on the animals care, which is estimated to cost up to $100,000.
It could cost $27,000 per month to feed them and to pay someone to move them and care for them. The starting range for all the costs – including being treated by a vet – is $50,000.
Feed donations can be made at Cascade Solid Waste Site on the Simms-Cascade Road.
Financial donations can be made at the Sheriff’s Office at 3800 N. Ulm Frontage Road or via the Sheriff’s Legacy Foundation website.
Call 406-454-6820 for questions to the sheriff.
In this Tuesday, March 31, 2020, photo, Cascade County Sheriff Jesse Slaughter discusses his office seizing several hundred starving cows and calves
Financial donations can be made at the Sheriff’s Office at 3800 N. Ulm Frontage Road Call 406-454-6820 for questions to the sheriff