The SPCA of Texas and Kaufman County Sheriff's Department seized four starving horses Tuesday morning from a Kaufman County property, just north of Crandall.
Three mares and one foal were kept in a small 20 foot by 30 foot pen that also contained a large boat and piles of scrap metal.
The horses weren’t given an appropriate amount of food, water, shelter or care. Two of the mares and the foal are emaciated and dehydrated. The mare that is of normal weight has a prolapsed eye and all of the horses have multiple lacerations according to the SPCA.
See images of the horse’s condition here.
The horses were taken to the SPCA of Texas' Perry Animal Care Center. They will be cared for there until the custody hearing, which will be held on Thursday, August 25 at 1:30 p.m. at the Kaufman County Justice of the Peace, Pct. 1 Courthouse.
"It is imperative to give all animals -- livestock and companion animals -- appropriate food, water, shelter and care at all times," said Art Muñoz, Senior Investigator for the SPCA of Texas. "When hay is scarce, as it is this summer, and the ground is bare, as it will remain until next spring, livestock owners need to supplement their animals nutrition and supply fresh water, in addition to providing appropriate shelter and care. These horses will now receive the food, water, shelter and care they so desperately needed."
If the SPCA of Texas receives custody of the horses, they would be individually evaluated for adoption or placement on a case by case basis.
Learn more about the SPCA of Texas from their website: www.spca.org.
