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Investigators: Animals were left without food; their water was covered in algae

Authorities are petitioning to have the animals removed from their owner permanently.
Credit: Hernando County Sheriff's Office

WARNING: A horse photo provided by the Hernando County Sheriff's Office appears at the bottom of this article and may be disturbing to some readers.

Several animals were seized from a Hernando County property after investigators claim they were neglected with no access to food and water that was covered in algae.

In April, the Hernando County Sheriff's Office did a welfare check at a property in Ridge Manor. Animal enforcement officials say they found a horse, whose hip and rib bones were showing, an extremely overweight pot belly pig and three goats. They say five adult dogs were in a pen that was covered in feces and mold.

Authorities met with the owner and instructed her to clean the dogs' pen and provide them with fresh bedding and clean water. They also told her to have a veterinarian and farrier examine the horse, and have the vet examine one of the goats that "appeared malnourished." 

Investigators say they returned on May 31 after weeks of unsuccessfully trying to reach the owner.

"When officers arrived on scene they were able to observe the horse, whose condition appeared to worsen since the last visit," the sheriff's office said.

That's when authorities say they realized the animals didn't have access to food, and the water had algae.

"All of the animals on the property were found in a state of neglect and were seized and taken to Animal Services in Brooksville," the sheriff's office wrote in an email.

The animals' owner and a caretaker were each issued misdemeanor animal cruelty citations, according to law enforcement.

Authorities are petitioning to permanently remove the animals from their owner.

Credit: Hernando County Sheriff's Office

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