FT. WORTH, Texas – Pregnant mares, yearlings and several stallions were legally seized and removed from a ranch near Cash, Texas, Tuesday after being found in a state of severe neglect. The seizure took place under the direction of the Hunt County Sherriff's office who cited the horses' owner with multiple counts of animal cruelty. The Humane Society of the United States was among the groups asked to help with the seizure by Texas-based Habitat for Horses, who worked with the Sheriff's office to obtain the warrant.
The 40-acre horse ranch had pastures devoid of grass, with little or no edible grazing for many of the horses, primarily the mares and yearlings. The HSUS assessment team noted that the majority of the mares were pregnant and many of the horses were so malnourished their back, ribs and hip bones were very pronounced. In one day, all the horses were removed and taken to an undisclosed, secure location where a veterinarian will examine and treat each horse as needed. It is believed this was a high-volume horse breeding operation akin to a puppy mill.
"This case is a classic example of an individual breeding more horses than he could or was willing to feed and care for responsibly. When that happens, the animals inevitably suffer, as these have. We're happy to have been able to assist in relocating them to a place where they can soon be on the road to recovery," stated Lou Guyton, director of the Southwest Regional Office of The HSUS.
"This is one of the largest equine seizures Habitat for Horses has done and I am very thankful for the assistance of The Humane Society of the United States, Humane Society of North Texas and the East Texas Horse Rescue organization," comments Jerry Finch with Habitat for Horses. "The trucks, trailers and expert handling skills provided by these organizations were invaluable. The success of this seizure in a large part was because of their efforts."
Habitat for Horses estimates it may take up to six months for the horses to be healthy enough for new adoptive homes. Depending on the outcome of the judge's ruling in this case, the horses could be given to the horse rescue for fostering and ultimate adoption within weeks. According to the Hunt County Sheriff's office, the owner of the horses will face multiple counts of animal cruelty, which is a Class A Misdemeanor in Texas and carries penalties of one year in the county jail and up to $4,000 for each count.
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The Humane Society of the United States is the nation's largest animal protection organization – backed by 10 million Americans, or one of every 30. For more than a half-century, The HSUS has been fighting for the protection of all animals through advocacy, education and hands-on programs. Celebrating animals and confronting cruelty. The Southwest Regional Office of The HSUS, located in Fort Worth, Texas, works on behalf of the animals and people in seven states: Arizona, Arkansas, Kansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas. On the web at humanesociety.org
Habitat for Horses is dedicated to changing the lives of horses and humans. Our goal is to create a world where horses are respected for their intrinsic value and for their ability to help us fulfill our emotional, behavioral and spiritual needs. We provide equine rescue services to law enforcement agencies, an active equine adoption program, an equine education center and equine-assisted services to youths and adults. On the web at www.habitatforhorses.org.
