Brown County Horses Found Emaciated

OHIO -- A Brown County horse owner could face animal cruelty charges after her nine horses were removed from her barn.

Some were thin and neglected.

The president of the Brown Co. Humane Society, Leslie Zureick, said a veterinarian examined the horses. Two are considered healthy. The remaining seven are underweight - including a Tennessee Walker named Leroy.

"There was little life in their eyes at the time," Zureick said.

Looking at the horses, you can see their ribs and their skin hangs over their hip bones. The Humane Society took them away from the owner Monday night.

"Four of the horses were inside the barn they were probably in about two feet of manure. No food, no water," Zureick said.

Local 12 News cameras caught images of the manure. It was caked on the horses. The sides of the horses stalls appeared to have been chewed away by the animals.

"It's just blatant neglect and abuse. It's straight starvation cases. I've seen plenty of them so far," said Donna Moore, a volunteer with the Humane Society.

Brown County Humane Society officers say they're getting more calls about thin, emaciated horses.

"The economy has gone south. The market for horses has dropped," Zureick said.

Some owners simply can't afford to care for them. But Leslie Zureick said the number of horses in this case makes it one of the worst she's seen. Hopefully, with a steady diet and a lot of TLC, Leroy and the other horses will soon be on the mend.

"They're starting to lift their heads up a little bit and be a little more alert. A few days feed in them is making a world of difference," said Tim Frazier, who's taken in the horses and is caring for them.

Zureick added, "Nine horses, it's going to take a lot. It's going to take a lot of money a lot of time, a lot of people, a lot of resources to get them on the mend."

The horse owner declined Local 12's request for an on camera interview. But, she did say by phone that she fed her horses and spent all of her money on them. She said she did not know why some of the horses did not gain weight.

The Humane Society will try to find homes for the horses. Anyone who would like information about the horses or would like to help with their care can call (937) 378-2210

(Local12 - Aug 9, 2013)