Malnourished Horses

PUNXSUTAWNEY, JEFFERSON COUNTY - The Jefferson County Sheriff's Office is facing the tough task of moving 32 malnourished horses from a farm.

The owner simply couldn't afford to properly take care of the horses anymore.

In cooperation with the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office and the Pennsylvania SPCA, the woman who owns the horses is surrendering the animals and finding them a new home.

Veterinarian Dr. William Wise is working with officials to find the horses a new place to live.  Wise has volunteered to care for the horses and nurse them back to health.

Jefferson County Sheriff Carl Gotwald Sr. said his involvement in this case started in the fall of 2009.  That's when he worked with the owner to find the horses better living conditions.

Gotwald said that his department looked into several options for the horses.

Earlier this year, it was determined that the woman couldn't afford to feed 32 horses everyday, so they decided that it was best for the animals she surrendered them.

Gotwald said that he didn't want to release the name of the owner or the current location of the horses, in order to protect the horses.  He said that he didn't want anyone from the public trying to interfere or feed the horses.  They are so malnourished that they can only eat straw.  If they were fed normal food, it could kill them.

Right now the horses remain at the undisclosed location until all the paperwork and logistics are finished.  Gotwald said he expects to move the horses next week.