1 Horse Dead, Another Malnourished At Lower Valley Ranch

EL PASO, Texas — A horse owner may face charges after Animal Control officers found one horse dead and another severely malnourished at a Lower Valley ranch.

The ranch in the 500 block of Holmsley Trail is in an area near North Loop and Pendale that used to be all ranchland, but now it is a mix of suburban homes and hold-out ranches.

During the time the city Health Department was there, several neighbors and folks passing by stopped. One of them even offered some hay for the horse that was still alive.

“Just by looking at a human you can tell if they’re eating right — or not eating enough — horses are the same way,” Edgar Teijiero said.

Local veterinarian Danny Dutton says times aren’t just tough on people; they can be especially tough on the animals that rely on us.

“When it comes down to making the house payments or feeing the baby — sometimes the horse, or the cat, or the dog loses out,” Dutton said.

He said a little bit of shade and regular meals are all it takes.

Failing to provide food, water and shelter to animals meets the legal definition of animal cruelty.

As of 2001, animal cruelty can be considered a felony and can be punishable by a $10,000 fine and up to two years in jail.

The Health Department and the El Paso police are investigating the case and determining if the horse owner will face charges.

Written for KVIA.com byWeb Producer Annette Arrigucci