At least 2 emaciated horses found in Katy may be put down

KATY, TX (KTRK) -- The Houston SPCA and Waller County Sheriff's Office seized two malnourished horses after an ABC-13 investigation.

The horses lived on a property in Katy, where compassionate neighbors contacted us saying they could no longer stand to see the horses suffer.

"This doesn't happen overnight," said Jani Hughes-Overgoner. "They all are suffering some stage of abuse and neglect."

We spoke with the owner of two of the three horses, who said she tended to them just two days ago.

"We've been trying to give them grain and hay and they cannot even eat," said Angie Galvan, who told us she rescued two of the animals last year from an acquaintance in Brookshire, who was deported.

When asked what kind of shape they were in when she rescued them, Galvan said the horses were "real skinny" but got worse with time and age.

The Waller County Sheriff's Office and Houston SPCA opened investigations roughly two weeks ago, and while an officer periodically monitored the horses, little action was taken until ABC-13 stepped in. Only one of the three horses was deemed healthy enough to stay.

"I don't know what it would take to rehab him, if he could actually survive," said Hughes-Overgoner. "He's been deprived for so long."

No criminal charges have been filed.