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Tip leads to abused horses

The SPCA finds emaciated horses and a donkey at a Largo property after an anonymous tip to police.

By TAMARA EL-KHOURY, Times Staff Writer
Published August 11, 2007

One of two horses taken from a Largo ranch Friday morning eats hay in it's stall at the SPCA in Largo. Five "highly emaciated" horses and one donkey were taken from a Largo ranch as the result of an animal mistreatment investigation by the SPCA.
	[Jim Damaske | Times]

ADVERTISEMENT [Jim Damaske | Times] Photo from the SPCA showing an emaciated horse taken into custody from a Largo ranch Thursday night. [JIM DAMASKE | Times] SPCA's Mark Wilcox comforts a hungry horse, one of two brought to the SPCA after they were taken from a Largo ranch, Friday morning.

LARGO - Five emaciated horses and a donkey were in SPCA Tampa Bay custody Friday after a tipster directed authorities to dirty pens with no food or water, officials said.

The animals were seized from George Hale, 39, who authorities say was keeping the horses at 1200 Donegan Road.

The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, which state law authorizes to investigate cases of animal neglect or cruelty, went to the property Thursday afternoon after Largo police received an anonymous call.

Hale was keeping the horses in dirty pens with substandard shade, according to SPCA director of operations Connie Brooks.

When found, authorities said, the equines did not have anything to eat or drink.

"This wasn't just malnourishment," Brooks said. "This was total neglect."

Investigators Thursday night took away three mustangs that were in "imminent danger," according to Brooks. Officers went back Friday morning and took two more horses and the donkey.

Hale signed over all the animals but one, Brooks said. He wanted to keep one horse, but the SPCA confiscated it with the others. Brooks said she hopes all the animals will recover.

SPCA officer Jill Purl said Hale told her he was overwhelmed and acknowledged that he owned too many animals.

Hale works as a tow truck driver, Purl said.

Officials said they plan to pursue animal cruelty charges against Hale, though no charges had been filed Friday. Hale declined to comment.

The three mustangs taken Thursday night were being held at a private property. One was unable to stand, according to SPCA officials.

On a scale of 1 to 10 with 1 being emaciated and 10 being healthy, a veterinarian scored the three horses taken Thursday night a 1.

The two horses confiscated Friday were being held at the SPCA's location in Largo. They were scored 3 on a scale of 10, Brooks said.

The donkey, which hadn't been examined Friday by a vet, appeared to be underweight but in good condition, Brooks said.

Hale adopted each of the three mustangs in May for $125 through the federal government's Bureau of Land Management, according to agency spokeswoman Shayne Banks. The mustangs were captured in the West, where overpopulation of wild horses is a problem.

The SPCA is not sure how long Hale has owned the donkey and the other two horses, which were munching on hay Friday morning at the SPCA.

The adopted mustangs technically still belong to the federal government, she said. Those who adopt horses must sign a contract allowing the government to inspect the animals until they are given a title, a 12- to 14-month process, Banks said. Neglected horses are confiscated by the government and rehabilitated.

"It is pretty rare that we have horses that have been neglected to the extent that these animals have been neglected," Banks said.

Fast Facts:

How to help

Anyone interested in helping to provide feed or specialized veterinary care to the rescued horses can make a tax-deductible donation through the Web site of the SPCA Tampa Bay, www.SPCATampaBay.org. For information, call (727) 586-3591.

[Last modified August 10, 2007, 21:26:32]