Three horses seized from Merced property after officers discover inadequate food, water
Three horses were taken from a property in Merced this week after a Merced County Sheriff Animal Control Officer noticed the horses were underweight and didn’t have adequate food and water.
The Merced County Sheriff’s Office responded to a tip of a Craigslist posting for the sale of a horse. The horse appeared to be very underweight and the ad stated the horse had just had a baby, according to a social media post by the Sheriff’s Office.
The Animal Control Officer began investigating the listing, making numerous attempts to identify the owner and the location of the horse. The officer was able to match the photo of the property to a location on Gerard Avenue in Merced.
Three horses — a mare, a stallion and a stud colt — were located at the property on Gerard Avenue. All three horses are now under the care of the Merced County Animal Services Bureau while the case is being investigated.
Once the owner has been identified, charges will be forwarded to the District Attorney’s Office, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
If anyone has information about this case they are asked to contact the Sheriff’s Office at 209-385-7445.
