LOGAN COUNTY LIVESTOCK OWNER RECEIVES JAIL TIME AND FINES

***Logan County Sheriff's Office Press Release***

STERLING, COLORADO – On April 4th, 2011, Gilbert Dean Schuman appeared in Logan County Court for sentencing on 14 counts of animal cruelty. Schuman received 60 days in jail and fines of $3,861.53. Additionally, Schuman will be ordered to 3 years of probation. Additional fines and jail time were suspended, pending successful completion of probation.

For further questions regarding this release, please contact Joe McBride at
970-522-2578 x3507 or at jmcbride@logancosheriff.com.

CASE BACKGROUND (PAST RELEASE INFORMATION):

STERLING, COLORADO - On February 25th, 2011, after a two day jury trial in Logan County Court, Gilbert Dean Schuman was found guilty on 14 charges of animal cruelty. Sentencing in the case will be held on March 30th, 2011.


On March 15th, 2010, the Logan County Sheriff’s Office, acting on information by the public, executed a search warrant at 11515 CR 37 in Logan County. During the search, approximately 79 bovine carcasses were located on the property in various stages of decay.

Several of the carcasses were located in a livestock pond on the property and others were under mounds of hay. In addition, many of the cattle found alive were in poor body condition. Sixteen head of cattle were taken to the Sterling Livestock Commission Company because their immediate welfare was in question.

During the search of the property, Gilbert Dean Schuman, 57, of Schuman Cattle LLC, was contacted and taken into custody. Schuman was charged with 16 counts of cruelty and held on a $5000 bond. Schuman’s next court date is set for March 29th, at 8:30 A.M.

This case remains under investigation, including determining causes for the large amount of dead cattle on the property.

Staff from the Colorado Department of Agriculture assisted the Logan County Sheriff’s Office during the investigation by providing livestock welfare information, large animal expertise, gathering of evidence, as well as logistical and veterinary support.

The Colorado Department of Agriculture’s Bureau of Animal Protection (BAP) continues to support and assist the Logan County Sheriff’s Office during this investigation. There are approximately 125 Bureau of animal Protection agents in Colorado; many are employees of public and private animal shelters, and local law enforcement organizations.

“The BAP agents play a vital role in the care and welfare of animals across the state by assisting local law enforcement agencies in their animal cruelty and neglect investigations,” said BAP Chief, Scot Dutcher. “Animal agriculture is a fundamental part of this state’s culture and food production system. Livestock must continue to be treated in a manner that is ethical and humane.”

Anytime animal cruelty charges are brought against a Colorado livestock owner, industry organizations monitor the situation:

Colorado Cattlemen’s Association
"The Colorado Cattlemen’s Association (CCA) has been in existence since 1867 and for those 143 years we have committed ourselves to protecting the interests of our ranching families and the cattle they raise," said Tim Canterbury, CCA president. "We carry this very commitment forward in asking that swift and decisive judgment be made toward anyone who breaks the bond between rancher and cattle through outright abuse."

Colorado Farm Bureau
"Colorado Farm Bureau roundly condemns reprehensible practices like those exposed by the Bureau of Animal Protection," said Alan Foutz, President of Colorado Farm Bureau. "All farmers and ranchers are morally obligated to care for their livestock. They work every day to ensure they are using the most up to date practices to protect the wellbeing of animals in their care. We would like to thank the Bureau of Animal Protection and the Logan County Sheriff’s Department for their help in ending practices that are inconsistent with industry and ethical standards."

Colorado Livestock Association
“The act of compromising the health and wellbeing of livestock is unacceptable to the members of our industry” stated Steve Gabel, President of Colorado Livestock Association. “Livestock producers have the ethical responsibility to provide the highest care for all animals.”

The Department’s BAP program investigates over 12,000 reports of animal cruelty and neglect annually in Colorado. Species investigated in FY08/09 include:
• Dogs: 9,543 (78 percent of all investigations)
• Horses: 1,588 (13 percent of all investigations)
• Cats: 688 (6 percent of all investigations)
• Cattle: 38 (.3 percent of all investigations)

For more information or to file a cruelty or neglect complain, visit www.colorado.gov/ag/animals and click on “Bureau of Animal Protection.”