The following story was written by Lillian Shupe for NJ.Com.
A South Jersey horse trainer and cinematographer is set to appear in state Superior Court in Gloucester County in early December on animal cruelty charges, as well on civil matters filed in the court.
In June, Monica Thors was indicted on nine counts of animal cruelty, six months after officers from the NJSPCA seized several horses and a goat from a South Harrison Township farm where Thors, 55, of Mullica Hill, was shooting a documentary about the care of harness racing horses. The project, started in 2011, has yet to be completed.
She pleaded "not guilty" to animal cruelty charges in state Superior Court in Gloucester County on Oct. 19.
Thors is scheduled to be back in the criminal division of state superior court on Dec. 11. She has also filed a motion to suppress which is scheduled to be heard at that time.
Thors referred questions about the criminal case to the public defender's office, which is representing her.
Thors, who has worked for decades in harness racing and horse photography, had to euthanize three horses in 2013 for chronic foot infections. Neighbors who complained to the NJSPCA said she had been excessively filing the animals' hooves — a claim Thors later denied when she contacted the South Jersey Timesto discuss her case this spring.
Thors previously acknowledged that her horses had chronic laminitis — an inflammatory condition of the connective tissue inside the hoof that causes lameness — beginning in the fall of 2013, but said that she had been compassionately caring for them with some success when her seven horses and goat were seized in December 2014. She has said the problem was caused by glue used to attach their shoes.
Officials with the SPCA also claimed her horses were overweight, and that Thors had failed to comply with recommendations to change their diet.
Thors contends she has done nothing wrong.
In November, Thors said, "I am the only one that holds the truth to what has happened."
Thors is charged with third-degree animal cruelty the deaths of four horses that had to be euthanized: According To Prince, a 7-year-old standardbred stallion; According To Hoyle, a 14-year-old standardbred stallion; Aspiration, a 7-year-old standardbred mare; and Princess Grey, a 13-year-old standardbred mare. All of the horses were allegedly overweight and suffered from chronic laminitis.
Thors also faces five counts of fourth-degree animal charges for allegedly "causing serious bodily injury, also by failure to provide care" to four more horses and a goat, all of which were also said to be overweight and suffering from hoof problems.
Meanwhile, Thors is embroiled in two active state civil suits, as well as a bankruptcy.
She filed a suit against the NJSPCA and several individuals shortly after her animals were removed. She said the "pre-planned" seizure of her animals was illegal and she is the victim of a conspiracy. She said health records will prove that her horses and goat were not abused. She also accused the NJSPCA and certain individuals of intentionally starving and making her horses sick. She said more would have been dead by now if not for a March court order preventing euthanasia of the animals without input from a veterinarian of Thors choosing. Motions in that case are scheduled to be heard in Dec. 2.
The NJSPCA did not respond to requests for comment.
Thors said she has filed "severe animal cruelty and murder charges and attempted murder charges," against the NJSPCA et al, both in the Gloucester County Prosecutor's Office and in the state Attorney General's office in Trenton.
The second suit regards her eviction from the farm where she kept the horses. According to various documents submitted to the court, Thors entered into an agreement with a couple that owns the farm. Under the 99-year agreement, Thors paid for the construction of a modular barn and other improvements. Instead of paying monthly stall rent, she gets credit based on the cost of construction.
The farm owners, Richard and Grace Allen, have been trying to evict Thors, who claims that the agreement does not allow the Allens to evict her for any reason. The agreement also says no lawsuits can be filed for any reason. Thors filed suit against the Allens in 2013.
Despite the contract, on April 1 the court ordered Thors to vacate the premises by April 30. Although she has no horses there, she told the court she goes there everyday to maintain the barn and feed several cats that live there.
Thors then filed for Chapter 13 bankruptcy on April 24. Bankruptcy filings typically come with automatic stays on proceedings like evictions. The state Superior Court later vacated the April 1 order so Thors could have more time to seek further review.
Meanwhile, motions in state civil court related to the eviction were scheduled to be heard in October but were adjourned until Dec. 2. Thors has argued that if she can't access her barn she can't finish her documentary and will lose millions of dollars. However, the court previously ordered the Allens to allow her on the farm for filming. Under that order, Thors has to get dates approved by the court in advance.
Attempts to reach the Allen's attorney were unsuccessful.