Donkey dragged behind tractor in Sandusky County - 13abc.com Toledo (OH) News, Weather and Sports

A disturbing case of animal abuse in Sandusky County. A Fremont woman is facing more than a dozen charges after allegedly dragging a donkey behind a tractor. We want to warn you some of the pictures may be upsetting.

There are obvious signs of the trauma the miniature donkey Henry went through last Friday, from the road rash along his side to the injury around his eye.

Veronica Rohm is one of the volunteers helping the 20-year-old donkey heal, "He's been real good with the treatments considering how much pain he's in."

According to Humane Society of Sandusky County investigator Kelly Askins, Henry's owner, 78-year-old Virginia Secrist, was moving him from one barn to another by tying him behind a tractor. The barns are more than a mile apart, "She tied two donkeys to the back of the tractor and was going to lead them home. Somehow Henry fell down and hit his head on a rock. She stopped the tractor and got him up. They got going again, but he went down again so she just dragged him all the way home. She said to me, "They know they have to keep up with me, I don't have time to wait around.""

Even with all the injuries, Henry is expected to make a full recovery. The eye injury is the most serious, but the Veterinarian treating the injuries expect everything to be healed up in the next month or two. Of course infection is a big concern, but volunteers keep the love and the medicine coming around the clock. Rohm says the mini-donkey sure seems to be thriving on the kindness of strangers, "He's a very loving animal and he'll pull through this with his whole heart."

Askins says when she visited with Henry just after he was first treated by the vet, she got the feeling he knew she was there to help, "He was still slightly sedated, but he laid his head in my lap and that's the first time I have ever had an animal outright show me they were grateful and it made me feel good. It made me feel like I did the right thing."

In addition to Henry, the Humane Society also confiscated three horses, five other donkeys, a sheep and four goats from Secrist's farm. they are all being cared for by the Humane Society. She is facing 14 counts of animal cruelty. Each count carries the possibility of up to 90 days in jail and up to a $750 fine. Secrist is scheduled to be arraigned in the next couple weeks.

Cases like this, put a big strain on the small Humane Society's budget. Donations of time, food, supplies or money would be appreciated.