Peaceful Ridge Rescue takes in emaciated horse, pony

BSO: Unclear if owner will face charges

DAVIE, Fla. ā€“ Peaceful Ridge Rescue, a Davie-based animal rescue organization, took in an emaciated horse and pony confiscated by the Broward Sheriff's Office.

Deputies on Monday confiscated the animals from an owner in Southwest Ranches who said he could no longer care for them. They were turned over to the rescue on Tuesday.

"Very, very nice. They are kind of loving life right now," said Victor Cutino with Peaceful Ridge Rescue. "They are seeing all this hay. They are seeing ample water."

Cutino said he's more concerned about the horse.

"We rate all the horses from zero to five; five being great and four being okay," he said. "But she is a zero, definitely a zero. You can see her spine bone is completely protruded out. Her ribs -- you can feel each one of them, you can count them. Her hip bone and tail bone -- horses are not supposed to look this way at all whatsoever -- and her fur just comes right off."

Cutino said a veterinarian was coming Wednesday to check the animals.

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It's unclear if the owner will face charges.

"Right now, it's just too soon to say," said Dani Moschella with the Broward Sheriff's Office. "We've started an investigation to determine what happened with these horses."

Moschella said the owner had other animals, including goats, but they appeared to be in good condition.