State police charged a 44-year-old woman with 34 counts of animal cruelty after rescuing 17 dehydrated, malnourished horses from her farm last weekend.
Mary M. Shaughnessy of Lafayette also was charged with one count of interfering with officers. All the counts are misdemeanors under the state Agriculture and Markets law.
Shaughnessy was arraigned in the Town of Fabius Court and released on her own recognizance. She was scheduled for another court appearance on Feb. 6.
Firefighters, troopers, horse trainers and veterinarians freed six adult horses and three foals on Saturday from a snowed-in barn 16 miles southeast of Syracuse. They stood on about one foot of frozen manure in their stalls, and could not stand straight without butting the ceiling, police said.
Eight horses were in a pasture. There was no hay in the stalls or pasture, said Sgt. Christopher Altimonda. The horses were taken to the state fairgrounds where they are recovering with the help of volunteers.
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