Weld County Man Cited for Animal Cruelty To Horse

On Monday, June 29, deputies with the Weld County Sheriff's Office said it responded to a report of animal neglect at a property in unincorporated Weld near Briggsdale. The call was regarding a horse that lived at this property, who was suffering from a severe case of founder — a painful condition that affects a horse's feet. It occurs when there is inflammation in the folds of tissue that connect the animal's pedal bone to its hoof.

After an initial investigation, deputies then returned to the property the following day with both an independent veterinarian, as well as a veterinarian from the Colorado Department of Agriculture's State Veterinarian's Office.

Both parties agreed that the horse's hooves were severely overgrown, and that it had been at least 1 to 2 years since they had been trimmed. Because of this, it was too painful for the horse to walk.

Sadly, the case of founder was so severe, the vets determined that rehabilitation was not an option. Therefore, they were forced to euthanize it.

The Weld County Sheriff's Office cited the horse's owner with one count of animal neglect, which is a Class 1 Felony and punishable by up to 18 months in jail. The case will be forwarded to the Weld District Attorney's Office to consider formal charges in the Weld County Court.