ARIZONA -- An Avondale man has been arrested after several sick and neglected horses were found on his property, according to the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office.
On Aug. 27, Sheriff Joe Arpaio's animal cruelty unit detectives responded to a complaint of starving horses near Southern Avenue and El Mirage Road in Avondale.
On Aug. 27, Sheriff Joe Arpaio's animal cruelty unit detectives responded to a complaint of starving horses near Southern Avenue and El Mirage Road in Avondale.
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| Manuel Maria Siguenza |
Deputies contacted Manuel Maria Siguenza who said he is the owner of one horse, three miniature horses and two ponies that live at the property.
Deputies found four of the six horses to be in poor physical condition, showing varying degrees of emaciation, according to MCSO spokesman Sgt. Brandon Jones.
Deputies found four of the six horses to be in poor physical condition, showing varying degrees of emaciation, according to MCSO spokesman Sgt. Brandon Jones.
A miniature horse and one of the ponies had neglected hooves, one of which was severely overgrown.
A 2-year-old stallion was severely emaciated, appeared depressed and was limping on its left front leg due to a severe abscess in his hoof, Jones said. A young filly kept with the stallion was also very emaciated but had a "pot belly" appearance suggesting possible parasite infestation.
The two ponies will require medical treatment for parasitism.
No medical treatment appears to have been provided to any of the four horses, according to Jones.
A 2-year-old stallion was severely emaciated, appeared depressed and was limping on its left front leg due to a severe abscess in his hoof, Jones said. A young filly kept with the stallion was also very emaciated but had a "pot belly" appearance suggesting possible parasite infestation.
The two ponies will require medical treatment for parasitism.
No medical treatment appears to have been provided to any of the four horses, according to Jones.
The horses were seized and transported to a veterinarian. They will remain under close supervision at the equine facility until they have recovered enough to be transported the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office MASH UNIT where inmates will care for them.
Siguenza was arrested and booked into the Fourth Avenue Jail for four counts of cruel neglect and four counts of failure to provide medical attention necessary to prevent protracted suffering, both class 1 misdemeanors.
(AZ Family - Sept 5, 2012)
