More than two dozen malnourished horses, a cat and a goat were seized this week from a farm near Enumclaw.
King County Animal Control Services received a tip about emaciated horses being kept on acreage near 236th Avenue Southeast and Southeast 416th Street.
Officials obtained a search warrant Wednesday night and took away 16 horses, a cat and a goat. After noticing other horses that looked underweight, officers brought a second search warrant to the farm Thursday and seized another six horses.
“It was obvious some of them were malnourished,” agency spokesman Cameron Satterfield said, adding some of the animals’ ribs were showing.
Four horses listed in the warrant were not found on the property, so officers will obtain another warrant and return in the next few days.
A veterinarian determined that five horses, two goats and several cats were in good enough health to remain on the farm.
The seized animals were being treated by a veterinarian contracted by King County.
No charges had been filed against the woman in charge of the animals. Satterfield said it appears she used to be a horse breeder and began taking in deformed horses as a one-person rescue operation.
Stacia Glenn: 253-597-8653 stacia.glenn@thenewstribune.com
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