Animal experts say they rescued seven malnourished horses from an Adams County property just in time, but an eighth horse did not make it. The surviving horses are now being cared for near Columbus.
"Come on mama," an equine caretaker said as a horse was escorted off of a trailer.
Animal experts say seven horses will get the care they need. Executive Director of the Ohio Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals saw the horses just hours after they were rescued Saturday. Teresa Landon says the animals aren't in good condition.
"You can feel the ribs and the spines on all of the horses. Unfortunately, one horse was just buried on the property," Teresa Landon said.
Landon says this is now a criminal investigation.
"They're getting a lot of attention and they're hungry. They've been without shelter and without adequate food for a long time," Landon said.
Authorities say an Adams County humane officer accompanied by a sheriff's deputy served a search warrant to the animals' owner on Saturday, with the intention of seizing 8 horses.
"Two of them are babies. The two young ones are extremely malnourished and as a result, are stunted in their growth," animal advocate Mandy Schreiber said.
One of the horses died on the property Saturday. The others were brought to a central Ohio shelter to recover.
"The fact that we knew that one horse had already died there was not a question in my mind that we had to step in and help these animals," Landon said.
With a good supply of hay and lots of love, caretakers say they are hopeful the horses will pull through.
"We feel that they will make it and feel that we've gotten to them in time," Landon said.
Ohio SPCA says animal cruelty charges will be filed against the owner of the horses. The Adams County Sheriff's Office has not yet made an arrest in this case.