Police and volunteers on Thursday removed and relocated 28 neglected farm animals from a property in St. Albans Town, the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office said.
The livestock, including seven horses and 21 sheep, were located on Dunsmore Road and lacked adequate food, water and shelter, according to a press release from the sheriff’s office. At least one horse had an untreated cut on its leg, police said.
The animals also were not confined, police said, which allowed them to roam freely on the property and into the road. Police said they do not believe the animals were purposely neglected — rather, the property owner was not able to care for them.
“We’re thinking this is more of a case of an elderly lady who just lost the means and ability to properly care for the animals,” Franklin County Sheriff’s Office Capt. John Grismore wrote in an email.
Police said their investigation started Jan. 15 when a sheriff’s deputy came across multiple horses in the street while patrolling on Dunsmore Road.
Further investigation found there have been several complaints — dating back to 2013 — about livestock in the road near the same property, according to police. However, Jan. 15 was the first time police determined that the animals were not getting proper care.
On Thursday, the horses and sheep were safely removed from the property and relocated to care facilities in southern Vermont, police said.
A representative from the nonprofit Age Well was on the scene to make sure the property owner’s needs were being met, police said.
A number of agencies and organizations were involved in the rescue effort, police said, including the state Agency of Agriculture, the Humane Society of the United States, the Humane Society of Chittenden County and the Dorset Equine Rescue.
In a Facebook post Thursday, the Dorset Equine Rescue, which is in East Dorset, said the seven horses will be staying with one of the organization’s foster homes for quarantine and further evaluation.
The organization is now raising money to support the animals’ basic care, it said.
The sheriff’s office may file charges against the Dunsmore Road property owner but has not formalized anything yet, Grismore said Friday.
Read the story on VTDigger here: 28 neglected farm animals rescued in St. Albans Town.