Sep 29, 2008 7:05 pm US/Eastern
Show Horses Found Starved On Long Island
East End Horseman Faces 5 Counts Of Animal Cruelty
CENTRAL ISLIP, N.Y. (CBS) ―
A Long Island man is facing animal cruelty charges. Five severely malnourished and sick horses were removed from a property in Central Islip on Monday.
And as CBS 2 HD found out, the rescue came just in the nick of time.
"She's been starved for so long. It's a crying shame," said Wayne Dougal of Indian Head Ranch.
The five show horses appeared emaciated, frightened and weak. Ribs were protruding through skin. Coats were filled with maggots. Legs were festered with infection. Hooves overcome with rot.
"They lost 300 pounds each," Dougal said.
The abused animals were brought to Dougal's ranch in Huntington for medical care after Suffolk's SPCA raided a makeshift barn and stables in Central Islip on Hawthorne Avenue.
Chief Roy Gross said the horses were in danger of dying had they not been rescued, crediting neighbor Mitch Prawski's family for calling police.
Salvatore Gondolfo, a horseman from Long Island's East End, is well known in the equestrian community. He pleaded not guilty to five counts of animal cruelty.
The suspect's family said the horses were once neglected. They were nursing them back to health when hay and oats were stolen. The district attorney said Gondolfo faces prison time and hefty fines if convicted.
The suspect must pay up front for one month of care for the five horses before a judge will grant bail.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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