Connecticut: East Hampton CoupleThomas Olajos, 36, and Melanie Olajos, 37, Faces Animal Cruelty Charges; 32 Horses Previously Seized

CONNECTICUT -- A couple whose 32 horses were seized last month as part of an animal cruelty investigation were charged late last week, officials said.

Thomas Olajos, 36, and Melanie Olajos, 37, of Daniel Street, were charged with 35 counts each of cruelty to animals, officials from the Department of Agriculture said Monday.

They were each charged with 35 counts of cruelty to animals – 32 counts for each of the horses seized and the other three counts stemming from the alleged mistreatment of two dogs, 19 rabbits and 78 chickens removed from Fairy Tail Equine on Feb. 2.

I don't know if this horse is involved, but it's on the donation site

The majority of the charges come in connection with the horses seized from their property in early February.

 

The couple breeds Friesian, Andalusian and Gypsy Vanner horses.

Officials said an investigation showed the couple failed to provide the animals with proper food, water, shelter or veterinary care. This came after animal control officers allowed the couple to improve the treatment, officials added.

As of Monday, the horses were in the care of the Department of Agriculture's large animal rehabilitation facility, officials said.

Two dogs, 19 rabbits and 78 chickens were also removed from the farm, officials said.

A total of 131 animals.

The Great Danes, lacked muscle mass and suffered from a variety of afflictions including whipworms and anemia.

The couple was released without having to post bail and will appear in in Middletown Superior Court on March 15, officials said.

 

Connecticut Department of Agriculture
According to the warrant used to secure the Olajos’ arrest, an examination of each horse by an equine veterinarian after they were removed from Fairy Tail Equine found that “the herd as a whole had been neglected and was underweight.”

The veterinarian’s findings indicate that the horses have been neglected in a variety of ways, including nutrition, care of their hooves and teeth, grooming and wound care.

In addition to being underweight, many of the horses had active lice infestation, their manes and tails were matted and tangled, and many had a skin condition known as dermatitis and had fecal material caked on their tails and legs.

A veterinary exam of the two dogs, both Great Danes, found that one was a 2- to 3-year-old male that was emaciated, with a lack of muscle mass and its ribs, vertebrae and pelvic bones all evident.

The dog also had live fleas present, a superficial skin wound, calluses on both elbows, excessive discharge in its ears, whipworms, profuse diarrhea and anemia.

The other dog, a 1-year-old old female, was underweight and also had live fleas, current and healed wounds, conjunctivitis, and excessive discharge from both ears.

The condition of its teeth suggested that the dog may have been chewing on rocks and dirt.

The chickens were underweight and malnourished when seized and most had little or no access to water.

Necropsies on three of them found dead during the Feb. 2 seizure revealed that the birds were in poor body condition with very little content in their stomachs, minimal fat stores and other health issues including skin lesions and intestinal perforation consistent with aggression and cannibalism.

Ten chickens also in poor condition were found in a cage in the Olajos’ house, which is directly adjacent to the horse paddock.

The rabbits, found in cages throughout the house, did have water and food available but both the animals and the cages were dirty.

(Hartford Courant - March 7, 2016)