Underweight Horses Impounded at El Cajon Ranch

Five horses allegedly being underfed at an El Cajon ranch were impounded Friday after an anonymous caller notified humane society officials.

The horses were taken from Donna Anhalt of the 6400 block of Dehesa Road in El Cajon, said Larry Boersma, director of community relations for the San Diego Humane Society and Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

Anhalt, who owned eight horses, could not be reached for comment.

“The others were in acceptable condition. I can’t say they’re fine, but they appeared to be in acceptable condition. Five out of eight is a bad set of odds,” Boersma said.

Boersma said the animals were 100 to 150 pounds underweight when impounded.

“An equine veterinarian will look at the animals individually and determine what they require in order to be brought back to sound condition,” he said.

Meanwhile, “we are building a case of animal neglect. . . . If we are able to build a reasonable case, the district attorney will decide to file charges,” Boersma said.

Anhalt could face up to one year in jail and up to a $1,000 fine on each misdemeanor count of animal cruelty.

“We’re talking a maximum of five years and-or a $5,000 fine if the court goes that route,” Boersma said.

He would not say whether Anhalt had a history of animal-cruelty violations.

In the last nine months, the San Diego Humane Society has impounded 94 horses, 16 of them in March. Boersma said there are 75,000 horses in San Diego County, more than in any other county in the nation.

Boersma said the society will keep a watchful eye on Anhalt’s three other horses.

“We’re trying to make sure these animals don’t slide farther down the scale into a life-threatening situation. . . . We’re here to save lives,” he said.