Published: December 18, 2006 11:10 pm         

One of 6 Grant County horses found starving dies

One of the six horses found starving last week in rural Grant County has died.

The mare, which died Sunday, was found along with six others ranging in age from 2 to 8 years old. One of the horses was immediately put down by a veterinarian in the pasture where the horses were found, about nine miles north and four miles west of Medford.

No charges have been filed and no one has been arrested. An assistant district attorney for Grant County said she was hopeful there would be charges filed by this afternoon.

The horses are being cared for by a volunteer in rural Garfield County. Resources to care for the horses are scarce. The volunteer, who wishes to remain anonymous, said she secured blankets for each of the remaining horses. They are eating a lot of hay and drinking a lot of water.

The remains of the mare that died Sunday were taken to Oklahoma State University for a necropsy. Another mare has a cough and is in frail condition, the volunteer said. When not nursing from its mother, the young horse has to be hoisted up, otherwise she lays down.

“I don’t know if she’s going to make it ... ,” the woman said.

Grant County Sheriff Roland Hula said paperwork has been prepared by deputies in the case and turned over to the district attorney’s office.

Part of the investigation was turned over to the state Department of Environmental Quality after a number of carcasses turned up in “various places on the property.” The DEQ is investigating whether water quality was compromised.

Tommy Farnsworth, who called in a tip to People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals a few weeks ago, said he saw the horses drinking from water that contained the remains of two donkeys.

Anyone wishing to help offset expenses related to the care of the horses can donate to the Enid Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals at 1116 Overland Trail or call 233-1325.