76 emaciated Arabian horses rescued, breeder arrested in Texas

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An Arabian horse breeder in Texas was arrested Friday after sheriff’s deputies, acting on a tip, found several dozen emaciated horses barely surviving in severely unhealthy conditions.

‘Some of the horses were standing in 6 to 8 inches of urine and feces,’ Tom Reedy, public information officer for the Denton County Sheriff’s Department told the Associated Press about the horrific scene at the Renazans Arabians ranch in Pilot Point, which he said resembled ‘a concentration camp for horses.’

Reedy said 76 horses were moved to two new locations where they were to be evaluated and treated by veterinarians.

Besides the nearly tragic levels of starvation, the stables were a complete mess, authorities said. ‘The stalls in the stables were filthy and appeared not to have been mucked out for some time due to the large amount of feces and urine in each stall,’ Deputy Kirk Sissney wrote in his arrest affidavit, which was released to the local CBS affiliate.

Gordon Dennis Key, the owner of the ranch, turned himself in Saturday. He is charged with Class A cruelty to livestock, a misdemeanor. He could go to jail for a year and receive a $4,000 fine. He is currently free on bond.

-- Tony Pierce