KAUFMAN COUNTY, TX - Under the authority of the Kaufman County Sheriff's Department, the SPCA of Texas is seizing four starving horses this morning from a Kaufman County property, just North of Crandall, TX. The horses--three adults and one foal--were kept in a small round pen on the property without appropriate food, water, shelter or care.
Two of the adult horses and the foal are extremely underweight. The third adult horse appears normal in weight.
On August 2, the Kaurman County Sheriff's Department contacted the SPCA of Texas regarding underweight horses on an approximately half acre property North of Crandall, TX. After visiting the property and seeing that the horses had no food, water, shelter or care, the Investigator for the SPCA of Texas and a Deputy for the Kaufman County Sheriff's Department contacted the animal owner, and attempted to work with that person to bring the animals' conditions into compliance with Texas Health and Safety Code. On a follow up visit, although the horses were being supplied food and water, the hay was moldy and the water was not drinkable, and the animals had been moved into a small round pen, so the SPCA of Texas' Investigator contacted the animal owner again. The animal owner claimed that other people were asked to care for the horses and blamed those other people for the lack of care. The Investigator reiterated that the owner is responsible for providing the horses consistent food, water, shelter and care and outlined how the animal owner needed to comply with Texas Health and Safety Code. On the last visit, the animal owner did not comply.
This morning, the Deputy and the Investigator for the SPCA of Texas agreed that the horses were in danger and in need of immediate care. The Kaufman County Sheriff's Department obtained a seizure warrant this morning and the animals will be removed by the SPCA of Texas and taken to the SPCA of Texas' Perry Animal Care Center at 8411 Stacy Rd. in McKinney,TX, where they will be cared for until the custody hearing, which will be determined later this morning.
"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 suppliment 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."
To help support the SPCA of Texas and its efforts to help abused, neglected and homeless animals and to support the SPCA of Texas' other programs and services, please visit www.spca.org/helptheanimals. To learn more about the SPCA of Texas, please visit our website at www.spca.org.
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