Humane Society of North Texas rescues 90 neglected animals belonging to Brett Orth, 53

TEXAS --  Dozens of animals, including dead horses, are being seized from a property in Marlin.

Animal rescue groups from across the state met on the property to feed and haul away the neglected animals.

Sheriff's deputies on the scene said that 3 horses were rescued this morning and the rest, about 16 more, will be seized this evening. Dozens of chickens and a pig will be taken by the North Texas Humane Society this evening.

“It took months of starvation for these horses and donkeys to become as thin as they are, and it will take months on a special feeding program to get them back to a healthy weight,” Humane Society veterinarian Cynthia Jones said in news release.

On Monday, Humane Society officials received a call requesting assistance in rescuing the animals after the owner agreed to surrender them. Upon arrival they found two horses dead in a pasture that was all dirt and mud and no grass. The surviving horses were sickly and had internal parasites.

Officials found free-roaming chickens on the property along with a goose, a hound dog and a pen of pigs including eight newborn piglets. In the home, investigators found four cats and seven dehydrated chickens.

 

Deputies say the owner relinquished his rights to the animals after they started their investigation on Friday.

Neighbors have been trying to get help for the animals for 9 months after noticing the horses were malnourished.

The owner, Brett Orth, 53, has been arrested on unrelated charges and has been in the McLennan County Jail for several days.

(KCENTV - Dec 21, 2015)