SILVERTON, Ore. (AP) — Marion County sheriff’s officers and horse rescue volunteers have removed five neglected and malnourished horses from a Silverton, Ore., field. Deputies also found temporary housing for several dogs with puppies that had been confined to a horse stall there.
Responding to a call about the horses, Deputies Todd Bay and Brenda Lumley learned the owners have been out of state. Sheriff’s spokesman Don Thomson says the animals were suffering from exposure — temperatures dropped below 19 degrees Thursday night — and lack of food. Lumley is experienced with horses. She rates the horses’ body condition between 1 and 3 on a 1-9 scale with 1 being the worst condition.
The deputies learned the owners arranged with a neighbor to feed the horses and agreed to send money. The neighbor told them no money has been received.
Thomson says an investigation continues. The animals were moved Friday.
