The animals were starving and neglected; the owner voluntarily surrendered the animals stating she could not afford to feed them.
Unfortunately this isn't the first time the New Hampshire SPCA has been to this farm.
In 2010 four horses were removed for neglect, however the horses taken on Wednesday were healthy at the time. Steve Sprowl, the NHSPCA Field Services Manager notified the owner at the time if she had a problem feeding and caring for the remaining horses and other animals to call and the humane organization would intervene before it became a problem again.
The owner never called the NHSPCA, and on Wednesday voluntarily surrendered two horses, two miniature ponies, one pony, one goat, and two ferrets.
All of the horses were in poor shape with their hip bones and spines prominently showing. According to a press release from the Stratham SPCA, the horses were rated as emaciated, with overgrown hooves and internal parasites with the miniature ponies being in the worst shape. They will slowly be rehabilitated.
(Foster's Daily Democrat - August 12, 2011)
