On Thursday, October 5, 86-years-old KENNETH FRANCIS BINGLE (pictured), was found guilty of one count of Aggravated Animal Cruelty and one count of Confinement of Animals without Food or Water, announced State Attorney Ed Brodsky’s office.
In May 2021, BINGLE was arrested on neglect charges after thirty-three malnourished cattle were found on his property.
According to court documents obtained by Voice For Us, on the morning of May 24, 2021, the Sarasota County Sheriff's Office Agricultural Unit received a report about some emaciated cows who “had very little to eat or drink” on a pasture in the 9000 block of Fruitville Road (northeast corner of Fruitville and Lorraine roads.
A deputy responded to the location and upon arrival, he saw approximately thirty cows of mixed breeds, as well as calves, sitting under a tree on the west side of the pasture. According to the affidavit, from the road the deputy saw most of the cows were very thin/emaciated with their ribs, hips/pins, and tailheads showing. The deputy also saw two cows standing around a hay ring with a third lying down on the ground. As the deputy got closer to them, he realized that the cow who was laying down could not get up, could not reach the little hay available, and did not have any access to water, or shade. In the affidavit, this cow is identified with a number, so I am taking the liberty of referring to her as Stella.
The deputy tried to help Stella get up but the poor soul was unable to stand due to her poor body condition and lack of energy.
There was a pond on the pasture that was drying up and the little hay “was visibly old and smelled moldy”, stated the affidavit. The deputy reported that the pasture grass was severely overgrazed. There was a molasses supplement feeder that was empty and appeared to have been that way for a long time.
In the northwest corner of the pasture the deputy found a dead cow hidden by a metal gate making it impossible for the deputy to see from the road.
Based on the deputy's findings, the decision was made to remove the entire herd and veterinarian Dr. Elizabeth Steele was called in to evaluate the Voiceless Victims. While the cattle were being removed, BINGLE arrived and said he had no idea why the sheriff's office was there and why the animals were being removed.
The deputy asked BINGLE why the cattle were skinny and he answered that the grass was not growing.
It then turned out that BINGLE had several round bales of hay outside of the pasture, approximately 200 feet from where the cattle were. BINGLE told the deputy that he did not have a truck and could not bring the round bales to the animals.
At one point, the deputy saw BINGLE using a tractor to remove the deceased cow and the deputy asked him if the tractor could be used to bring the hay to the cows. To that, BINGLE answered: “Yeah, I could but they haven’t eaten the old hay yet.” BINGLE maintained that there was nothing wrong with the animals.
The cows were taken to Sarasota County Sheriff's Office Animal Services by trailers while efforts were still being made to get Stella off the ground. According to the affidavit, the poor soul was given approximately six gallons of water that she drank immediately. She was in such an emaciated state that she had to be strapped to BINGLE's tractor to be lifted. Although all her bones were clearly visible, BINGLE had the nerve to say that there was nothing wrong with her.
As officials tried to get Stella onto a trailer, she collapsed and they had to use ropes and straps to help her stand. Upon arriving at Animal Services, Stella ate fresh hay and drank several gallons of water. Unfortunately, that did not help, and since she was still laying on the floor of the trailer, she was rolled out of the trailer and onto the ground of the fenced pasture of the shelter. At that point, the Sarasota County Road and Bridge Department were called in. They brought a front-end loader and tried to lift Stella with several wide liftings straps. This attempt was also unsuccessful.
On the late evening, veterinarian Dr. Kelley Garner responded to Animal Services and examined Stella. She advised that Stella appeared dehydrated and needed fluids. Dr. Garner then stated that Stella could either be humanely euthanized or wait until the following day when she could be seen by another veterinarian. According to the affidavit, the decision was made to delay euthanasia and Stella was examined the following day, on May 25, 2021, by Dr. Jeanie Presler.
An ultrasound revealed that Stella was six to seven months pregnant. Dr. Presler obtained bloodwork and fecal samples from Stella, put her on various medications, and said that if Stella did not get up in three days, humane euthanasia would be warranted on May 28, 2021.
On the early morning of May 30, 2021, Stella was found deceased. According to the affidavit, “There was evidence the cow had attempted to stand up or move on its own several times during the overnight hours but was unable to do so.”
As stated in the press release by the State Attorney Ed Brodsky’s office, BINGLE “was in the cattle business for nearly fifty years.”
Andrew van Sickle, the Animal Cruelty Prosecutor in Sarasota, said in a statement: “As a seasoned cattleman, Mr. Bingle was responsible for the condition of his herd. If you assume that responsibility, whether a domestic animal or farm animal, no evasion or ignorance can shift the blame to someone else. I am delighted that the jury agreed that all animals should be treated humanely and with respect.”
Updates on the trial will be posted as they become available.
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Details may be removed or additional information may be provided in future should such sources report an update.
BINGLE’s mugshot shared from the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office.
