2 severely emaciated horses seized Nipomo, CA (US) Incident Date: Thursday, Nov 17, 2005 County: San Luis Obispo Local Map: available Disposition: Alleged Charges: Felony CTA Case Images: 1 files available Alleged: Adrian Alvarez Case Updates: 2 update(s) available

Case ID: 6538 Classification: Neglect / Abandonment Animal: horse View more cases in CA (US) Login to Watch this Case

Sheriff�s deputies have confirmed they arrested 31-year-old Adrian Alvarez of Nipomo on suspicion of felony cruelty to animals Nov. 17, 2005, after allegedly finding his two horses malnourished and otherwise improperly cared for.

�On a scale from 1 to 10, with 1 being as thin as a horse could be and 9 and 10 being obese, these horses were negative-1s,� said Deputy Mike Martin of the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff�s Department Agriculture and Rural Crimes Unit. �Patches of hair were missing, and there were no nutrients in what hair there was; it was real brittle.�

Deputies acting on a tip responded to the 700 block of Ralcoa Way where Alvarez and his family live on the same property where the horses were kept, sheriff�s officials said. �Responding deputies found the two horses that were extremely underweight,� said sheriff�s spokesman Sgt. Brian Hascall. �They were undernourished, showing rib bones and hip bones, and their feet weren�t properly trimmed.� Martin said Alvarez told deputies he had been feeding the horses.

Deputies called in a large-animal veterinarian who performed full examinations on both horses.

�His evaluation was that they were in the condition they were in for no other reason than that they were being starved to death,� Martin said. The horses were transported to the County Division of Animal Services shelter near San Luis Obispo, where they remain under the care of a veterinarian. Alvarez, who was released on bail, was not available for comment.

Martin and Hascall said deputies have seen other cases of animal cruelty but seldom to the extent of degradation allegedly suffered by Alvarez�s horses. �We do find cases where horses aren�t being given enough food or their area is not clean enough, but those cases are normally solved by contacting the animals� owners and offering education. Owners typically correct it,� Hascall said. �This was a rather extreme case where these horses were in jeopardy,� he added.

If the court finds Alvarez guilty of felony charges, the horses could be permanently seized from him, Martin said. The California Penal Code also states a guilty verdict could lead to a fine of up to $20,000 per incident. �If you�re going to take on a horse or animal, in general you have to be responsible for them. They can�t take care of themselves,� Martin said.

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References

	Times Press Recorder - December 14, 2005
	The Adobe Press - May 26, 2006

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