Abused Horses Rescued in Woodburn
Nine neglected horses were rescued from a muddy field in Woodburn on January 2nd following an investigation by the Marion County Sheriff’s Office.
The investigation began in late December when neighbors called to report the horses in a field at Crosby Road NE and North Arney Road, in Woodburn. Neighbors reported they had been left in the field several months ago, with little attention being paid to them. Two stallions were locked in a small shed, separated from the other horses, but with little room for movement. Many parts of the field were under water, with other areas in 6″-12″ of mud. There were no sources of food in the field and little shelter available to them. Most of the horses displayed signs of malnutrition and dehydration. Neighbors reported that the horses were eating the wooden fencing to survive.
Deputies began their search to determine who owned the horses. Several local residents stepped up to assist deputies in identifying the owners and getting these horses the treatment and care they needed. During his initial investigation, deputies learned that a neighbor had placed an ad on Craigslist asking for donations to feed the animals. Frustrated at seeing the neglected horses, she decided to take action. The Craigslist ad caught the attention of several experts with resources needed to address the issue. Representatives from The United SPCA, Forest Trails Horse Relief in Sheridan, Rescue Blankets in Sandy, and Sound Equine Options in Estacada came forward to offer their services.
Ultimately, Marion County Deputies were able to identify and locate three owners for the horses. They stated that they were raising the horses to enter them in rodeos, but also admitted that the care of the horses was lacking. One owner said he was feeding them, but admitted he only gave them fescue straw that had little or no nutritional value. Following the interview, they gave consent to have the horses examined by Dr. Barbara Kahl, who is an equine veterinarian with experience in cruelty and neglect cases. Dr. Kahl is also the President of United SPCA in Yamhill, Oregon.
Following a preliminary examination, all nine horses were seized and transported to United SPCA shelter in Yamhill where tests were conducted to determine their health. Dr. Kahl’s initial body-condition assessment of the horses resulted in a rating between 1 & 2 on a 1-9 scale, with 1 being the worst condition and 9 being the best.
Additional tests show that all of the horses are in depressed states suffering from severe malnutrition. Veterinary exams also found that they horses suffered from hoof abscesses, rain rot, ear mites, skin sores, gingival abscesses and severe dehydration. They also displayed flaccid muscles that could barely hold their weight and swollen limbs from infection and lack of appropriate nutrition.
Deputies arrested and cited Eduardo Cruz-Arvizu, Oswaldo Cibrian, and Jose Rubio Dela Cruz on 9 counts of Animal Neglect.
