Environmental Services recovered ten horses, one mule, one pony, two dogs and one goat. All of the animals were contained to fenced-in areas, and the report states eight of the horses and the mule appeared malnourished and in bad physical condition.
They also found two chickens in a pen that had died from an unknown cause. The other animals were transported to a safe location after Lynn Schaeffer and Wendy Sue Desabro were taken into custody.
On Thursday, Both Desabro and Schaeffer appeared before A Florence County Judge. The judge ordered the animals to the care of the Florence County Humane Area Humane Society.
A veterinarian checked on the condition of those horses' and it was determined all of them were in poor condition. Spilt hooves and poor dental and skin issues were just some of the problems the veterinarian reported.
Dr. Elizabeth Buckner with the Animal Hospital of Kingstree performed body condition scoring on the horse. The scoring uses a one through nine rating, with "one being a rack of bones no fat at all, and number nine being obese. We're scoring them there, and so far, I haven't seen anybody above a two," said Dr. Buckner.
Caretakers say it will be months before the animals will be ready for adoption. Both Desabro and Schaeffer will be back in court on June 18.
(WMBF - May 10, 2013)
