SPCA retrieves malnourished horses; Nathaniel Henry, 64, arrested

FLORIDA --  A Florida nonprofit has retrieved five malnourished horses from a property in Miami Gardens, leading to the arrest of one man allegedly behind the neglect.

The owner of three of those horses Nathaniel Henry, 64, was arrested on animal abuse charges.

He told investigators that he had run out of food for the horses, though SPCA officials believe the horses hadn't been fed in quite some time.

Online postings say that the humane society has a history with Nathaniel Henry. I wouldn't be surprised to find out that he had been charged with animal cruelty in the past.

Staff and volunteers with the Florida Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals are now working to save the animals' lives. Meanwhile, the man allegedly responsible for their care is facing charges of aggravated animal cruelty.

The horses were taken from a property in the area of Northwest 159th Street and Red Road in Miami Gardens, Wednesday afternoon, and were transported to the SPCA of South Florida's shelter.

One of the animals that was retrieved is a 2-year-old pony that was starving to the point that he was too weak to stand. As staff tried to get him on his feet, he began to graze, eating the grass right where he was standing. "If horses cannot stand, they die," said SPCA President Kathleen Monahan. "This is animal cruelty."

 

 

7Skyforce HD hovered above the scene as the investigation unfolded, but SPCA staff said they have been there since around 10 a.m. Wednesday. They had been notified about a downed animal on the property for two days. When they arrived, they found the horses suffering from severe neglect. "The living conditions were just horrid," said  Laurie Waggoner, SPCA Director of Ranch Operations.

Two of the horses are thoroughbreds, and officials were able to track down the owner of three of those horses. He has since been arrested for aggravated animal cruelty. "No animals should have to live in the conditions these animals were living in," Waggoner said. "We are probably gonna DNA [the thoroughbreds] and try to find out who the owner, who the breeder was."

 

Monahan said they will do everything they can to help these animals. "I'm glad it's with us, because I know if this little pony has a shot. Its best shot in the world is right here with this organization," she said. "These people that you see running around, staff and volunteers, will do everything, day and night, to save the life of this pony, as well as the other horses that they're taking in now."

A vet will determine whether that pony will be euthanized, but SPCA said that he is a fighter. "Everything is looking encouraging so far," said the veterinarian, Dr. Roberta Swakon. "It's just gonna be a day at a time and see if there are any complications that weren't obvious in the present."

The four other horses are expected to make a full recovery.

(WSVN - Dec 31, 2015)

Earlier:

• Animal Abuse Investigation Underway in Miami Gardens