A horse rescue group in Davie is helping two emaciated horses make a full recovery after tipsters alerted authorities of their poor condition.
The horses' rib cages are clearly visible and their hips bones jut out from her sides.
"It's horrible. It's horrible to see a horse in that condition. For someone to let a horse get in that condition is very sad," said Peaceful Ridge Rescue owner Victor Cutino.
He is hoping that he can change their fate.
The Broward Sheriff's Office said Tuesday that it rescued the horses from an owner who said he could no longer care for them.
Concerned residents in Southwest Ranches reported the horses to the BSO. Their caretaker, who has not been identified, surrendered them to the rescue group, located at 2995 SW 121st Ave. in Davie.
"Our deputies were able to coordinate with this rescue who's stepped forward so generously and graciously to care for these horses, when otherwise we would have been in a jam," BSO spokeswoman Dani Moschella said.
Peaceful Ridge Rescue will continue to care for the horses.
Cutino says the horses, both in their 20s, were likely starved for three months. It will take the same amount of time to nurse them back to health, which will not be easy, particularly for the one named Lucky.
"That's the million-dollar question, how did we get here, why do people let it get that bad?" Cutino said. "If you can take your kids to fire station, to the hospital, you can take dogs and cats, horses and everything, to a place where somebody will take care of them for you."
As for their previous owner, he or she is facing tough questions.
"We're just in the infancy of this investigation and we have yet to determine if a crime has been committed or if anybody will face charges," Moschella said.
More Horse Stories:
- VIDEO: Dead Horse Rides Again
- Homeless Kids Go Horseback Riding at James Jones' Camp
- Starving Horses Left to Die in Miami Gardens Stable: SPCA
Photo Credit: NBC 6 South Florida