By Clay LePard
clepard@cbs4qc.com
A shocking case of animal abuse in Rock Island County.
Nearly three dozen starving horses are found on a farm and the land owner is now under investigation.
The horses have been moved to Schone's Friendship Farm in Milan where workers have been feeding these horses with hay around the clock, trying to get them back up to a healthy weight.
"They've all been malnourished," says Leslie Hahn, Trainer at Schone's Friendship Farm. "They just need to put on a couple hundred pounds."
It was the farm you see on the left in rural Rock Island County where law enforcement arrived last week to find a grim scene; a site that even included several horses dead on the property.
The owner has voluntarily given up the horses to police.
"I'm just appalled at anybody that could treat horses like this," says Cindy Traub. Traub is interested in adopting one of the horses. "When you have horses, you have to treat them like their own kids, and I suppose there are some people that would starve kids but I wouldn't."
An investigation is underway and charges could come as early as next week.
In the mean time, Schone's Friendship Farm will nurse the mares and geldings back to health and find them new caring homes.
"Love and food and they'll come around," says Leslie Hahn, Trainer at Schone's Friendship Farm. "I can't wait to see the end result, I'm excited for that."
If you're interested in adopting one of these horses or just making a donation, you can do so by calling the Schone's Friendship Farm in Milan at 309-787-9422.
