60 Horses, 40 Dogs Seized In RivCo Cruelty Case; Adoption Available

RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA — More than 60 horses and 40 dogs were impounded late last month as part of a cruelty investigation in Riverside County, and animal control officials announced Friday that the rescues are now available for adoption.

"We are at a point in this ongoing investigation where we are able to reach out to residents and rescue groups that would want to help rescue or adopt and care for these animals and give them the quality of life that they deserve," said Erin Gettis, director of Riverside County Department of Animal Services.

The horse herd consists of stallions, mares with foals, and pregnant or possibly pregnant mares. The equines range in age from 2 days old to mid-20s. The breeds are Aztecas, Quarter Horse crosses and Friesian crosses.

With the exception of a few, the unhandled horses are considered feral and not halter-broken; guarantees cannot be made regarding their condition, trainability or rideability, according to RCDAS. All require teeth floating and hoof trimming, officials said.

The process of adoption or rescue of any of the horses is by appointment only. For more information or to make an appointment, contact RCDAS at shelterinfo@rivco.org with the word "horses" in the subject line.

The dogs are mostly mixed herding breeds, such as Australian shepherd, border collie, and German shepherd-types. They range in age from adults, puppies, to moms with puppies, according to RCDAS. The canines can be seen at the San Jacinto Valley Animal Campus during normal business hours (10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Saturday). The shelter is located at 581 S. Grand Ave. in San Jacinto.

Information about the cruelty investigation was not provided.

Related: 113 Dogs Impounded Following Jurupa Valley House Fire