The horses have been in this condition for about seven months. One had to be put down. Eight of them were in a severe state of malnutrition.
Fresno Sheriff's Deputy Chris Curtice says neighbors did what they could to keep the nineteen horses alive. "They actually used some of the last money they had to buy some grain to try and get to the one horse that was down, and gave some to the other horses, but they're not the horse people. They don't have money for that."
Shortly after the investigation began, the owner of the horses, Dana Kahler, 59, showed up.
He was arrested on animal abuse charges, then released about 8 hours later, and actually went back to the property. Sheriff's deputies say he always had an excuse for not feeding the horses. "If you can't afford to have a horse, you shouldn't have it. Sell it, get rid of it, but don't treat it like this."
It's not Kahler's first brush with the law.
Deputies say there was a similar call a few years ago involving two horses.
Beth Caffrey with the SPCA says there have been at least 7 incidents over the last couple months where horses were found starving. Some are repeat offenders. "If the felonies actually came with a stiffer penalty as well, maybe they would serve some time, but the biggest goal would be if they're not going to provide care for the animals, that they would not be allowed to have animals in the future."
The SPCA seized the 18 horses that were left in the morning.
Several good samaritans, including a Prather man, and Tractor Supply Co. in Clovis, donated hay, oats and barley to get the starving horses through the night.
TXT 24
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