Authorities have seized nearly 100 emaciated and dehydrated animals, including two nearly dead horses, from a ranch west of Boise, Idaho, in a case that animal welfare workers described as one of the worst in their memory.
"Some of these animals are as bad as they can get, I'd say close to death," Patricia Vance, director of shelter operations with the Idaho Humane Society, said on Wednesday.
The hours-long rescue began on Tuesday after an initial investigation by sheriff's deputies in southwest Idaho and the state Department of Agriculture determined the condition of the animals was too dire to delay.
The seizure by the Idaho Humane Society included 30 horses, 20 goats, 18 sheep, 13 Llamas, 10 pigs, one dog and at least one cow.
Veterinarians were forced to kill a young horse and a young goat on the spot because of their extreme suffering.
"The horse was down and barely alive," said Vance. "One of the goat's legs had been eaten off and something had chewed off its hamstring on the other leg, so both back legs were destroyed. And those weren't brand-new injuries."
The collection of starving and dehydrated animals on a 30-acre ranch in Payette County, a sparsely populated area about 50 miles west of Boise, constituted one of the Idaho Humane Society's larger rescues in recent years and it stands out for the severe neglect the animals endured, officials said.
"We have some tough people on staff who have seen all kinds of things but this one left them shaken and upset," said Hannah Parpart, outreach coordinator for the Idaho Humane Society. "That tells you a lot about how bad things are."
A goat missing its foot and a cow suffering from a lung ailment were slated to be killed Wednesday and animal advocates said the fate of some of the sicker creatures will be decided hour by hour.
Idaho Humane Society officials said they hope to rehabilitate the animals that are not too far gone, including many of the horses. The animals ranged in age from a day-old goat to a 24-year-old horse.
Payette County Prosecutor Anne Marie Kelso said Wednesday she is awaiting investigative documents for review.
Sheriff's officers said animal cruelty charges would be filed as soon as they can identify who owned the livestock.
Animal cruelty and related crimes in Idaho are misdemeanors, with the maximum penalty per count six months in jail and a fine of up to $5,000.