Shope and Gates were arrested and booked on charges of felony cruelty to animals and booked into the Putnam County Jail. Shope was given a bond of $5,020 and Gates was given a bond of $15,012.
Two Charged with Animal Cruelty
2013-01-17 by: Deputy Paula J. Priester
Hollister, FL; On Thursday, January 17, 2013, Putnam County Sheriff’s Office deputies arrested Rael Shope and Jacqueline Gates on felony warrants stemming from an ongoing investigation into the treatment of their horses.
The investigation began in November 2012, when the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, Animal Services received anonymous telephone calls regarding the well being of several horses in the Hollister area. Animal Control Officers immediately responded to the area and discovered several horses in distress at two separate locations.
The investigation revealed that R. Shope had 4 horses that were unhealthy and malnourished. One of the horses expired due to being neglected and undernourished. The remaining horses were seized and have been relocated to a foster home where they are being rehabilitated.
Further investigation revealed that J. Gates had 3 horses that were extremely underweight and in distress. One horse had to be euthanized by injection, and the remaining horses were seized and have been relocated to a foster home.
