Neglected horses, farm animals rescued

The Suffolk SPCA broke the padlock on a barn in Calverton last week and removed 24 horses, ponies and other farm animals that had been deprived of food, water and routine care, the agency's head said Monday.

The three animals in the worst condition were taken to Hillcrest Stables in Riverhead. The others were being cared for elsewhere. In addition to horses, the animals included sheep, goats and a pig.

At a news conference at Hillcrest on Monday, Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals law enforcement chief Roy Gross called the animals' plight the worst case of neglect he can remember.

Riverhead town police had received a tip about the animals and contacted the SPCA.

Gross said the farm where the animals were found -- he declined to name it -- was in receivership, and the attorney handling financial matters for the property gave the SPCA permission to take away the animals.

"They had no food or water," Gross said. "The Riverhead Fire Department had to bring water out."

The owner has not been charged, but officials are investigating, Gross said.

Regina Benfante, the lead investigator for the SPCA, said the agency hoped to find people to adopt the animals.

"It's a matter of nursing them back to health," she said.

Darlene Wilcox, who has run Hillcrest Stables for more than two decades, said Monday that she offered to help out when the SPCA reached out to her last week.

"I may adopt this one myself," she said as she held the halter of a skinny brown horse, which was so malnourished when taken away from the Calverton farm that it needed help to eat.

The SPCA is seeking donations of horse blankets, feed, water buckets and other stable equipment to care for the animals and is also looking for cash donations to help cover the cost of animal care. The agency can be contacted at 631-382-7722.