Help needed for starved horses
SNOHOMISH, Wash. -- Animal control officers are asking for help caring for neglected horses after finding one horse dead and several others starving at a Snohomish home in what they're calling the worst case of horse neglect they have ever seen.
Police Commander Fred Havener said the horses were found Sunday evening at a home in the 1200 block of Orchard Avenue.
An animal control officer said the dead horse appeared to have died from starvation, and another horse was in critical condition. Two others were extremely week due to lack of food, Havener said. One of them could not even manage to take a few steps into the trailer and had to be lifted.
"She was as close to dying as she could be without actually dying," said Laura Clarke, who has volunteered to take in the horses for the time being. "She didn't have any care, absolutely non-existent. You don't' have a horse get like this overnight. This is months of neglect if not longer."
The 27-year-old woman who owns the horses admitted to not having fed her animals and agreed to turn them over to deputies. The animals were taken to a veterinarian before being taken to Clarke's home.
"Their horses are starving right outside their window, right outside their door and it's unbelievable that they just don't have a guilty thought about it. It's heart-wrenching," Clarke said. "Real horse lovers - they'll go without before their horses do."
"In my 33-year career in law enforcement, I have never seen horses in that bad a shape," Snohomish Police Chief John Turner said in a statement.
"This is truly heartbreaking. If people could just see the state these poor animals were in I'm sure folks would want to help. We've contacted several horse rescue societies and they tell us that they are already overwhelmed, so for the time being what we are really seeking is money donations for their care and upkeep," Turner said.
Police said felony charges against the owner are pending.
Officials are working to place the horses in rescue homes. Donations of alfalfa and supplies are also welcome. Anyone who is able to help is asked to call Snohomish police at 360-282-3206.
Police Commander Fred Havener said the horses were found Sunday evening at a home in the 1200 block of Orchard Avenue.
An animal control officer said the dead horse appeared to have died from starvation, and another horse was in critical condition. Two others were extremely week due to lack of food, Havener said. One of them could not even manage to take a few steps into the trailer and had to be lifted.
"She was as close to dying as she could be without actually dying," said Laura Clarke, who has volunteered to take in the horses for the time being. "She didn't have any care, absolutely non-existent. You don't' have a horse get like this overnight. This is months of neglect if not longer."
The 27-year-old woman who owns the horses admitted to not having fed her animals and agreed to turn them over to deputies. The animals were taken to a veterinarian before being taken to Clarke's home.
"Their horses are starving right outside their window, right outside their door and it's unbelievable that they just don't have a guilty thought about it. It's heart-wrenching," Clarke said. "Real horse lovers - they'll go without before their horses do."
"In my 33-year career in law enforcement, I have never seen horses in that bad a shape," Snohomish Police Chief John Turner said in a statement.
"This is truly heartbreaking. If people could just see the state these poor animals were in I'm sure folks would want to help. We've contacted several horse rescue societies and they tell us that they are already overwhelmed, so for the time being what we are really seeking is money donations for their care and upkeep," Turner said.
Police said felony charges against the owner are pending.
Officials are working to place the horses in rescue homes. Donations of alfalfa and supplies are also welcome. Anyone who is able to help is asked to call Snohomish police at 360-282-3206.