Their ribs showing from a lack of nourishment, three horses rescued Monday near Steedman by the Callaway County Humane Society are now available for adoption.
Sandy Corbet of Fulton, president of the Callaway County Humane Society, said Wednesday the Humane Society last Thursday received a complaint from a Callaway County resident about the lack of care for the three horses.
"The owner was a woman at Steedman who had the three horses in about a half acre area. There was no grass for the horses, just dirt. There were some trees and the bark and leaves were eaten by the horses in their attempt to find food," Corbet said.
"I told her that the horses were hungry and badly needed to have their hooves trimmed. A young horse was in urgent need of veterinary care. The woman promised last Thursday she would do so. But she called me on Monday and said she didn't have the money for a veterinarian or to care for the horses properly. She volunteered to surrender all three of the horses to us. Because she at least had attempted to deworm the young animal with some medication and later had provided a round bale of hay after we talked with her, no animal abuse charges will be sought. She surrendered the horses to us and we picked them up and took them to Dr. Bob Barnett in Fulton. That's where they are now," Corbet said.