WIS News 10 - Columbia, South Carolina | Horses died of starvation on Fairfield Co. farm, rescuer says

Horses died of starvation on Fairfield Co. farm, rescuer says

WINNSBORO, SC (WIS) - A viewer e-mailed WIS News 10 about horses dying on a Fairfield County farm. She writes, "We were awakened in the middle of the night to go and rescue horses where a mare died of starvation and her weanling died."

When we checked into this, we found the owner has been charged with four counts of animal cruelty.

Magic and Lassie are on the road to recovery, but both horses are still weak and underweight. Vickie Dooley of S.C.A.R.E says, "Any animal that starves to death - that's got to be one of the cruelest ways to die."

Back in December, authorities found a total of four horses severely neglected at a home in Winnsboro. The other two horses died. Now the owner is charged with four counts of animal cruelty.

Fairfield County Deputy Keith Lewis says, "The owner was actually out of state. They were relying on someone else to actually feed the horses."

Dooley says, "Just because you're gone doesn't mean you can't take care of your horses. They still have to have feed and grain on a regular basis, and fresh water."

Dooley is with an animal rescue organization. She says the horses went three to six months without eating.

Magic and Lassie were brought to Ellen Acres Farm in Winnsboro, where the South Carolina Awareness and Rescue Equines has been taking care of them for about a month. Dooley says, "I quarantined them for the first week. They were vet checked immediately. I slowly began feeding them."

Dooley says Magic and Lassie are doing better now, but she wants to make sure they end up with a good home. "I don't think they need to go back to the situation they were in for fear of it happening again."

Reported by Fay Taylor

Posted by Chantelle Janelle