A judge recently ruled they will not be returned to their owners Deborah Kingcade (aka Deborah Krahenbuhl Kingcade) and James Kingcade, who are charged with felony counts of animal cruelty and neglect.
KIMA visited Rodeo City Equine Rescue and shares the horses' remarkable road to recovery.
“These horses were in pretty bad shape,” said Vada Mitchell, president of Rodeo City Equine Rescue. “There were three we weren't sure were going to make it.”
Hundreds of photos from the Sheriff's Office depict the appalling abuse of severely underweight horses with long matted coats and fungus on their legs.
“People would call and say these horses aren't being taken care of and the Sheriff was investigating,” said Michelle Cramer, treasurer of Rodeo City Equine Rescue.
For more than a year the Sheriff's Office repeatedly warned owners James Kingcade and Deborah Kingcade, to no avail.
Without food, deputies suspect the horses ate their feces and the wood of a fence enclosure.
And when a feeding plan wasn't met, authorities took action.
But in May they were recovered, and three months later there have been huge strides in their health.
Eight of the horses have been adopted and three are pending. But three are still looking for a home. All have come a long way, gaining about 200 pounds each.
“Each horse needed different things so we got the care that horse needed,” said Cramer.
A community effort to save the lives of suffering animals.
“The 4-H kids came and cleaned barns and people were calling on the phone saying, 'What can I do?'” said Mitchell.
Donations of hay and other necessities to the rescue.
“Pretty soon you could stand at the end of the barn and all you'd hear is this munching sound,” said Mitchell. “It was pretty cool.”
The Kingcades could face up to five years in prison if found guilty. Efforts to reach them were not successful.
Anyone interested in adopting one of the remaining horses can find more information on Rodeo City Equine Rescue’s website here.
(KIMA CBS 29 - Aug 4, 2016)
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