ClarksvilleNow.com Reporting
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CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – A Clarksville man has been charged with animal cruelty after a dead foal was seen hanging from a tree March 11 in the 2000 block of Whitfield Rd.

According to Officer Natalie Hall with the Clarksville Police Department (CPD), an officer received a call about the sighting around 1:41 p.m. She spoke with a UT Montgomery County Agricultural Agent who met her March 13 at the property where the horses are located.

The agent said one horse, a white mare with brown spots, was found emaciated and in poor condition. Two other horses on the property appeared to be in better condition, but there was no hay available for the horses at the time of the visit. The agent and officer found corn in a storage trailer which is not accessible to the animals.

The foal previously seen hanging from the tree had been removed, and the owner, Timothy Decent, admitted to taking it down and removing it from the property. He told police the foal had died for unknown reasons, and he had hung it to keep the hide but had forgotten about it.

Animal Control sent photos of the foal from the night of March 12 to be placed into evidence.

Timothy Decent, 62, was charged with animal cruelty and booked into the Montgomery County Jail on $10,000 bond. He had been previously charged with animal cruelty in November 2012.

On the morning of Saturday, March 15, officers obtained a search warrant for Decent’s property so that animal advocated could examine the other animals for signs of abuse.

The Clarksville-Montgomery County Humane Society, Horse Haven of Tennessee, Volunteer Equine Advocates, Willy’s Happy Endings, and the Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency were represented during execution of the search warrant.

Several animals were found malnourished, extremely thin, lacking clean food or water, and in need of veterinary care. All live animals were removed from the property and taken to facilities for treatment.

Decent was arrested and charged with aggravated animal cruelty. He was booked into the Montgomery County Jail, but made bond soon after and was released