On Wednesday, county officials announced that the District Attorney’s Office and the county’s Department of Animal Services were looking into an allegation of an emaciated horse that had vanished from a Rancho Santa Fe farm.
An animal services officer was sent to the property in the 7600 block of Artesian Road on Tuesday night after seeing a photo of the horse.
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The horse was spotted at the site, according to county officials, but a veterinarian who was “responsible for the health of the animals on that property” informed the officer that she planned to put two older horses to death there on Monday but lacked the tools necessary to do so.
It was decided to perform the euthanasia the next morning in front of animal services officials.
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But the veterinarian never showed up, according to county officials, who also claimed that she “had an emergency and had the horse removed before the officers had arrived” and declined to produce any paperwork proving the animal had been put down.
According to county officials, criminal charges may be brought unless they can provide evidence that the horse was humanely put down within 48 hours or received the necessary veterinary care.
Animal services is evaluating the condition of the second horse, which is still on the farm. The county claims to be collaborating with prosecutors to look into the other horse’s whereabouts and state.
