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Dec 4, 2006 6:21 pm US/Eastern
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Sharpsburg Farm Owner Accused Of Hoarding Horses
by Derek Valcourt
Sharpsburg, Md. (WJZ) ―
A call Saturday about a dead horse launched a massive investigation into animal abuse at a farm near Sharpsburg. Authorities found several dead animals and many more sick or neglected. As
Derek Valcourt explains, the Humane Society now needs assistance caring for the animals.
Investigators covered the body of a dead horse with a tarp on Saturday, one of several disturbing discoveries on this 35-acre Windrinker farm, according to animal control officers.
They've called the farm a crime scene and have found more than 70 horses, donkeys, ponies and miniature horses on the property, all at various stages of health.
"To date, we've taken about 22 off the property that needed care that the vets felt it was necessary to remove."
Animal Control says these remaining animals were the healthiest of the group, and they may be treated right here on the farm.
The challenge for the Humane Society isn't over. In fact, it's just beginning. Not only do these horses have immediate medical needs, but the Humane Society is also worried about their long-term care.
Right now, it's unclear how long the Humane Society will be caring for the horses. Volunteers and veterinarians have donated their time, but Humane Society officials say now they need different kinds of donations. For starters, hay.
"We need 20 to 30 bales a day for the remaining horses on the property."
And they need to buy specialized medicine and supplies.
"Things that I just can't tell people where to run to get it, so cash would certainly be a better alternative in that respect or gift cards from like TFC, tractor supply or anyplace that would be equine-based."
The farm owner said she has a degree in animal husbandry and that she kept the horses fed and groomed.
Miller disagreed. "I think that, certainly, there were some needs for these horses that weren't being met," he told reporters at the scene.
He said the farm owner had told him there were 74 horses on the property.
Authorities arrived Saturday afternoon to investigate calls about a dead horse visible from the two-lane country road that runs by the farm, set amid rolling hills near the Antietam National Battlefield. Miller said another horse died Saturday after being taken to Day's End Farm, a horse rescue operation in Howard County.
The mostly skeletal remains of five other horses were found on the property, Miller said.
Miller said investigators had found little feed on the farm except pasture, and that volunteers had brought in bales of hay for the horses.
Maryland has no laws regulating the number of horses per acre. Pastures may need two or more acres to produce enough forage to feed one horse during the summer grazing months, according to the University of Maryland Cooperative Extension.
During the winter, horses need twice as much energy to keep warm, Miller said.
Miller, who has been working for the Humane Society for more than 30 years, told
WJZ's Jessica Kartalija it is one of the worst cases of animal cruelty he has ever seen.
(© MMVI, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)