Cuyahoga Fair Board Announces Plan to Avoid More Animal Cruelty

After animal cruelty charges were levied at stable owners at the Cuyahoga County Fairgrounds, the fair board presented a new inspection policy to the Cuyahoga County Council on Tuesday.

In January, Cleveland Animal Protective League found two severely underweight horses on the fairgrounds. Honester Davidson, 68, and Gregory Davidson, 62, of Double D Stables were evicted from the property and charged with cruelty to animals. Their trial is scheduled for May 12 after pleading not guilty to second-degree misdemeanors.

Fair board President Timothy Fowler presented a multi-step plan to the County Council to prevent such an incident from occurring again.

"This unfortunate incident has not set on the fair board easily and lightly," said Fowler, according to Cleveland.com. "It certainly violates the fair board's mission."

The plan calls for more rigorous inspections and tighter restrictions of what's allowed in the stables. The fair board's Vice President, Carl Cooley, will join in inspecting barns and issuing reports to the board. Infractions have been expanded on the leases. Barn managers will meet with the board more than once a year.

The most significant change is a new clause in the leases that allows local, county or state officials to enter a barn without advanced notice.

"The leases that they had... in the past prevented on site inspection without notice," Councilwoman Sunny Simon told Patch.

Simon approved of the plan, acknowledging it addressed needs sorely missing from before. However, she noted the County Council must ensure the fairboard follow-through with the plan.

"The implementation is really what's needed," Councilwoman Sunny Simon said. "The plan is a good plan, it's a better plan."

The plan also mentions allowing guests to visit horse barns and proposing a full facility that will feature therapy horse riding and educational programs.

Fowler added more changes are planned, but the County Council was satisfied with the initial steps.

Photo courtesy of Cleveland APL