More neglected animals found abandoned

HIALEAH, Fla. (WSVN) -- Investigators are looking into several cases of animal abuse in South Florida after horses and more animals were found abandoned and in deplorable condition.

On Sunday, volunteers for the South Florida Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SFSPCA) discovered horses, cows and an emu sick and injured, dumped on the side of the road in a rural area of Southwest Miami-Dade. They also found a dead horse and cow on the property.

The Hialeah-based organization is now treating the surviving animals, some of which were so emaciated, they could barely stand and had their bones showing through their skin. "Whoever did this to these animals absolutely didn't care for these animals," said Laurie Waggoner of the SFSPCA

Those at the SFSPCA said they found at least nine different animals abandoned, including six horses and two cows as well as the emu. Miami-Dade Police called the abandonment of the animals a crime.

On March 4, the SFSPCA rescued 11 horses and a dog, which had been impounded police in an area near to this latest case. They call these cases of abandonment an epidemic in South Florida. "In the month of March we've picked up a total of 36 horses," Waggoner said. "These are not horses that people have surrendered to us. These are all horses impounded by the Miami-Dade County Police Department."

The reasons behind these cases is not clear cut "Whether it's the economy ... I can't tell you," said Waggoner. "I can't tell you why people do to these animals what they do."

Again, the abandonment of these animals is a crime. Miami-Dade Police ask anyone with information on who might have left these animals to die, to call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-TIPS. Remember, you can always remain anonymous, and you may be eligible for a reward.

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