Worst Abuse Case He’s Seen, Agent Says : Humane Society Impounds 5 Starving Horses

Five starving and dehydrated horses were removed from a holding pen Tuesday in what San Diego County Humane Society Agent Robert Garis described as the worst case of equine abuse that he has seen in his eight years with the society.

The horses, which were being held in a fenced area on Willow Glen Road in an unincorporated area southeast of here were starved to the point that their hair was falling out and they were severely dehydrated and ungroomed, said Garis.

Property owner Robert Fortenberry of San Diego visited the lot regularly according to neighbors, Garis said. “It was clearly intentional. There were other well-fed animals on the lot; it’s a case of selective feeding,” he said. The other animals, including goats, dogs, pigs and cows, did not belong to Fortenberry, said Garis. Fortenberry could not be reached for comment, but Garis said he confirmed that Fortenberry did own the horses.

The society learned of the horses while making a routine recheck of an earlier case nearby. “The woman whose animals we were inspecting said to us, ‘If you think mine are bad, you ought to look at the ones up the road,’ ” Garis said. Because there was no residence on the property and because of the severe condition, the society decided to impound the animals directly rather than wait to contact the owner.

There were 11 horses on the property, but the society was able to impound only the five in the worst condition, Garis said, because Humane Society facilities are full. There are no plans to impound the other horses at this time. Two of the 11 horses were in good condition, said Garis.

After the animals have been inspected and weighed by a veterinarian, the society will ask the district attorney’s office to file a criminal complaint that will include five counts of starvation and animal cruelty, each of which carries penalties of up to $500 in fines and/or six months in jail, Garis said. If the district attorney decides to prosecute the charges, custody of the animals will be decided in court.

After being picked up, the horses were taken to the Humane Society facility at 887 Sherman St. in San Diego. There, the horses will be fed and have their hoofs trimmed. Despite the severity of their condition, the society hopes that all five can be saved.

The San Diego Humane Society, which has been awarded a prestigious five-star rating, has impounded more than 100 animals of various kinds in the last nine months.