Horse found seriously malnourished
Howell, NJ (US)

Incident Date: Tuesday, Jul 1, 2008
County: Monmouth

Disposition: Alleged

Alleged: Ronald Battista

A township man was charged with two counts of animal cruelty after investigators said they found a seriously malnourished horse on his Cranbury Road farm Tuesday night.

Ronald Battista was issued summonses charging him with failure to provide sustenance and shelter to the animal, said Victor 'Buddy' Amato, chief of police for the Monmouth County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

The horse was more than 250 pounds underweight and suffering from oozing sores, Amato said.

"The horse was in bad enough shape that the county had to send a veterinarian out there for an emergency examination," Amato said. Investigators said they will try and take the horse from its owner some time Thursday.

Amato credited Howell Patrolman T.J. Hurley and Monmouth County ASPCA Sgt. Matt Juliano with conducting the investigation that uncovered the alleged abuse.

References

• Asbury Park Press - July 3, 2008

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