KING COUNTY, Wash. -- Dozens of horses are dead or dying in the worst animal cruelty case some local rescuers have seen.

A woman is under arrest after deputies seized ten of her horses in Carnation and ten in Monroe. Other horses were found dead.

Rescuers named one of the foals Phoenix in hopes he will rise from the ashes. Phoenix was starving and infested with lice when rescuers found him Friday.

"There is a chance he could still die," said Dr. Hannah Evergreen. "We got him out as quickly as we could to the hospital for stabilization but he's still not out of the woods."

All the horses were suffering. Their skins were literally rotting away because of pooling water on their backs. No one has cared for their hooves. Their bellies look fat, but that's because they're loaded with worms. All the horses were severely emaciated.

Snohomish County investigators won't confirm whether they found any dead horses on the Monroe farm, but KOMO 4 News has confirmed that four mares were found dead on the Carnation farm.

"It was horrifying. It was a bunch of walking skeletons on the property," says Evergreen. "And then to find the dead horses was horrific to know that we didn't get there in time for all of them."

The case shocked even the experienced rescuers.

"The worst, by far the worst that I have seen," said rescuer Jaime Taft of Save a Forgotten Equine. "I've been doing rescue for three years. I've seen some pretty tough cases but not in the quantity or the magnitude."

Most of the rescued horses can recover, but it may take up to a year before they are healthy and adoptable.

In the meantime, rescue groups could use your help.

To find out how you can help, visit:

Save a Forgotten Equine

Equine Aid

Evergreen Holistic Veterinary