After receiving an anonymous tip, Yorktown officers went to a home in the 200 block of West 2nd Street, where they found two female horses that appeared malnourished, said Police Chief Paul Campos.
Dr. Hampton McAda, a veterinarian, was called to the property, where he determined they were not sick but underfed.
A warrant was signed by DeWitt County Justice of the Peace Bill Robinson.
The horses were taken to new living quarters, and Saturday morning, the new caretaker called police when she noticed one of the horses was too sick to stand.
After consulting with Dr. Shana Bohac with the Hillcrest Animal Hospital, a decision was made to euthanize the animal, said Sgt. Richard Ramirez.
"It was too weak to pick itself up and stand, eat properly or drink water like it needed to," Ramirez said.
The horse was put down at 1:30 p.m., and all expenses were taken care of by the city of Yorktown.
Ramirez said officials would try to recoup the expenses through restitution fees charged to the owners.
Julian Perez, 61, and Cassandra Perez, 45, who own one of the horses, are expected to be charged with cruelty to animals or livestock, which is a Class A misdemeanor, said Ramirez.
The second horse is owned by Gilbert Garcia, who lives near the couple and told officers he left the horse two months ago to be broken in and had not been back to check on the animal.
A hearing has been scheduled for Nov. 4 at the Justice of Peace Office, 326 Main St. in Yorktown, in which a judge will determine whether they were cruelly treated. If so, the horses will be auctioned off or taken to a humane society, Ramirez said.
Ramirez said he plans to present information to the judge at the hearing to see whether Garcia also was at fault for the abuse.
(Victoria Advocate - Oct 27, 2013)
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