In an ongoing saga that has captured national attention, the Los Angeles Alliance for Animals is suing San Diego County's Department of Animal Services in an attempt to obtain records related to allegations of severe neglect and the death of a horse at a Rancho Santa Fe ranch earlier this year, according to NBC San Diego.
The county department reportedly received complaints in March regarding the substandard care of between 40 and 50 horses at the Artesian Road ranch. To add to the tragedy, one elderly horse was found down, trapped in mud, and died before it could be euthanized, as reported by Times of San Diego.
The animal rights nonprofit accuses an animal control officer of responding but not immediately euthanizing the horse, causing it to suffer for more than two hours. According to Zohra Fahim, founder of Los Angeles Alliance for Animals, a bystander who identified themselves as a veterinarian offered to euthanize the horse but was refused, "resulting in prolonged distress of the elderly mare." The stakes are raised as the group seeks not just the necropsy report of the deceased horse, but also records related to public complaints about the care of other horses on the property.
The Department of Animal Services claims to have not yet received the lawsuit and therefore has refrained from sharing any comments on the issue. The department had reported earlier this year that it had been involved in ongoing communications with the property owner's private veterinarian regarding the care of the animals on the ranch.
Although public records requests submitted in April had brought this situation to light, the Los Angeles Alliance for Animals alleges that it has still not received an adequate response. This lack of information has now resulted in increased scrutiny and calls for transparency from both the organization and concerned citizens.
Animal advocates spoke with NBC 7 in April, recounting their experience witnessing horses in squalid conditions with no shelter, caked hooves, and protruding bones due to lack of food. In an unsettling turn, the alleged abuse had been initially reported on March 17th, with investigators meeting with the owner and/or their veterinarian a total of eight times, ensuring continued attention on this heartbreaking situation.
It has been revealed that the property owner holds current and longstanding licenses with the California Horse Racing Board (CHRB). Its response to the allegations has been limited, stating "The horses in question are not located at a facility licensed by the CHRB. The CHRB will be leaving this investigation to the agencies with jurisdiction -- where the violations are alleged to have occurred (San Diego County Sheriff and Animal Services). Once those agencies complete their investigations, the CHRB will determine whether the individual licensed owners have violated any CHRB rules and will proceed accordingly."
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