Owner blames animal neglect on her money woes

A Somerset animal owner said financial woes overwhelmed her and led to years of neglect that rescue workers said crippled some of her horses and caused some of her sheep to carry up to 100 pounds of overgrown fleece.

El Dorado County animal control officers seized 45 animals from Sue Lyons' ranch in the 7500 block of Happy Valley Road on Wednesday.

Beth DeCaprio, executive director of the Grace Foundation of Northern California, where the animals are now housed, described the situation as an extreme case of neglect, the worst she has seen on a large scale.

DeCaprio said untrimmed hooves made it impossible for the horses to walk. One horse could not bend to feed. Another looked emaciated.

Sheep were found with overgrown coats and horns growing into their heads. At least one had teeth so bad it could not eat.

Veterinarian Mike Russell said the majority of the horses can be returned to good health, but said the outlook for at least two may be grim.

"If they can be saved, we will do it," DeCaprio said. "But we will never have an animal be in pain for the rest of its life."

The nonprofit foundation in El Dorado Hills is also taking care of a few llamas, a goat and a cow from Lyons' 20-acre ranch.

Henry Brzezinski, Chief of El Dorado County Animal Services, said the costs of rehabilitating these animals could deplete its Pet Aid Fund, which currently has about $40,000. The fund relies on donations and is separate from the county's allocation for its operations.

Lyons, 62, who owns a gift shop in Placerville, said in a telephone interview with The Bee Thursday afternoon that she accepts responsibility for the neglect but the stress of running out of money took a toll on her.

"It's my fault, but at the same time, when I thought I was going to come home and take care of the animals, I would be so tired and fall asleep," Lyons said. "But I should have been a better mom."

A tight budget also forced her to prioritize how she would care for the animals.

"I opted to feed them," Lyons said, adding that her animals were never without food, water or love, which she showed by talking to them.

She thought that when she had more money, she would be able to trim the horses' hooves or shear the sheep. But the money never came.

Lyons started acquiring the animals about 20 years ago, when she was married and living in the Bay Area, she said.

She divorced in the mid-1990s and moved to Somerset, where she planned a riding school. But in a rural, secluded location, little business came her way.

Last March, she opened the "Aha! gifts and more" shop on Forni Road, hoping her luck would change. But a few months later, road work started, impeding access to her shop for customers. She thought the construction would be completed by last September, but it is still ongoing.

She does not think she'll ever recover her animals, but hopes she can visit them.

"You can't imagine how sad I am," she said, her voice choking up at times. "But I'm kind of happy because the animals are in a better place."

About the writer:

• Call The Bee's Chelsea Phua, (916) 321-1132. Director of Editorial Research Pete Basofin contributed to this report.