FAMILY, HORSE REUNITE; EX-OWNERS GAVE ANIMAL TO SUSPECT IN SALE SCHEME.

Byline: Brooke Olson Daily News Staff Writer

Nine-year-old Audrey approached the horse cautiously, extending a hand to the bony, white Arabian she once owned.

``It's yours princess. Hug her like you used to - she's not hurting,'' Cathy Becker-Skaggs told her daughter.

Audrey burst into tears moments later, distraught over the condition of Libertee. The Becker-Skaggs rescued the horse from an abusive home and then about a year ago donated Libertee to what the family thought was a day camp for needy children.

``I'm sad because she's been through a lot,'' Audrey said. ``I can't wait until she comes home and I can brush her and feed her and love her again.''

It was a bittersweet reunion for the Becker-Skaggs and the horse Friday afternoon at the West Valley animal shelter. The family was one of a dozen that allegedly were swindled by a woman's promises to care for their aging animals.

Authorities allege that Renae Ferguson, a 28-year-old Tarzana woman, starved and neglected the horses that were donated to her West Coast Riding Center. The camp didn't exist, and Ferguson is suspected of selling the donated animals, often by placing classified ads in the same publications she used to solicit donations, police said.

Fourteen horses were confiscated from Ferguson, but police said they have received more than 100 phone calls from people who think they may have been tricked by the horse dealer.

If the allegations prove true, it will be the second time Libertee, also known as Libby, has endured abuse. Cathy Becker-Skaggs had rescued the 23-year-old animal from a woman who had abused and neglected her. Nine months and $2,000 later, the horse was back in good shape. Then, the family began looking for a good home for Libertee and, on a friend's recommendation, donated the animal to Ferguson.

``I just really wanted the best for her,'' Becker-Skaggs said. ``I had no idea this would happen.''

Becker-Skaggs stroked the horse lovingly, pressing her face close to the mane of the animal. ``She's a very strong horse. As much abuse as she's been through, she should be very mean-spirited by now,'' she said. ``But she's so sweet and so very forgiving.''

The family had donated the horse a year ago and had not heard anything of their beloved former pet until Thursday morning when Becker-Skaggs picked up the newspaper.

``I saw the story and I just couldn't believe it,'' she said, unsure at that time whether Libertee was among those abused. It wasn't until later Thursday afternoon when, with the help of television news crews who were filming the horses, that she was able to identify Libertee.

``The crew came over and showed me the photos and I was pretty sure it was Libby,'' Becker-Skaggs said. The black-and-white video showed a Libby trademark - a scar across the right flank that the horse got when she was first abused.

``When Libby came to us, she had bed sores on her body and they were horribly infected,'' Becker-Skaggs said, running her hands across the scar. ``Libby even underwent a couple of surgeries to fix it . . . but she was left with this scar.''

Becker-Skaggs said she did not harbor any ill will toward the woman accused of starving Libertee. In fact, she said she prays that the woman will find the right path.

``Hopefully, she'll be able to grow from this experience and learn to love animals again,'' Becker-Skaggs said.

The Becker-Skaggs family will take Libertee home after the district attorney wraps up the case against Ferguson. For now, though, the family is just glad she's in good hands at the city's animal shelter in Chatsworth.

``Libertee is going to get the care she needs here and that's all that matters,'' Becker-Skaggs said. ``And when we take her home, she'll be the most loved animal ever.''

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2 Photos

PHOTO (1--2) Audrey Becker-Skaggs, 9, above, kisses her reclaimed horse, Libertee, on Friday at the West Valley animal shelter. At left, Cathy Becker-Skaggs and her daughter pet the horse that police believe was part of a fraudulent charity scheme.

Michael Owen Baker/Daily News