ANNUAL REPORT 2020 WEB - Flipbook - Page 5
When Animal Cruelty Investigators from the SPCA of Texas
arrived at a self-described “sanctuary” for animals back in
April, they instead found extensive animal cruelty.
Together with the Van Zandt County Sheriff’s Office and the Van
Zandt County Constables Office, investigators found dozens
of deceased horses as well as 70 horses, nine donkeys and
six pigs. All of them had minimal to no access to food or water.
More than half of the horses, the donkeys and the longhorn
were roaming on a large, fenced pasture on the property. These
animals had no access to food and little to no access to water.
Other horses were confined to two smaller pastures on the
property with no access to food and minimal water. The horses
were so desperate for nourishment that they were eating the
bark off of the trees, leaving some trees completely bare of
bark. The pigs were confined to a small wire pen with no access
to food.
The surviving animals had numerous health issues, including
malnourishment, open sores, nasal discharge, diarrhea, hair
loss, overgrown and cracked hooves, fly bites and other injuries.
The SPCA of Texas received custody of the 86 surviving
animals later that month. Thanks to the combined efforts
of our Animal Cruelty Investigations Unit, law enforcement,
staff, volunteers and generous donors, these animals are now
healthy and happy. As of April 2019 only a handful of horses
from this case are looking for their forever homes.
Christie Fuentes,
Case Manager
with a horse from
Van Zandt County.
Rescue.
Saving Lives
SPCA OF TEXAS 2018 | 5
