Three people, two from Cumberland County, have been cited for animal cruelty, following a seizure of horses from property located on Disneyland Road in White County.

According to Detective Steve Page, of White County Sheriff Department, Safe Harbor Equine and Livestock Sanctuary, based in Cottontown, had been observing the animals at the property for some time, after receiving complaints from the community.

On Oct. 14, Page states that Sheriff Oddie Shoupe informed him that Safe Harbor and the District Attorney General’s office would be coming to the property to remove the horses.

Shoupe asked Page to respond to the scene on Oct. 15 to assist Safe Harbor and to begin building a case.

Upon his arrival to the property, located at 1372 Disneyland Road, Page said the animals appeared to be malnourished.

“All of them needed medical attention,” Page reports.

Page says that the equine veterinarian who observed the horses reported that one was in such poor health, that it was most likely within two weeks of dying. Another horse had a ruptured eye.

Page states that there was no food for the horses, nor was there shelter. The horses had sunburnt faces, he says, and reportedly the property was covered in weeds with no fescue growing for the horses to eat.

According to Safe Harbor in a statement on their Facebook page, “The horses have experienced starvation, neglect and many have injuries which will be treated. Several of the mares are pregnant.”

Safe Harbor says they took in 19 horses from the property, which was leased by Donnie Eddie Williams, of White County, and James Floyd Whitenburg, of Cumberland County.

The landowner reportedly resides out of state.

At this time, Williams and Whitenburg have been charged with cruelty to animals.

Williams had three horses on the property, and Whitenburg had five horses, Page states.

A third individual, Mark Thomas Anderson, of Cumberland County, has also been charged with cruelty to animals. He reportedly had one horse on the property.

The investigation is ongoing, and additional individuals may be charged. MORE AT SPARTALIVE.COM