Animal Control Removes Horses, Ponies from Severn Property

Editor's Note: This story has been updated from its original version to include response from the animal owners. 

Anne Arundel County Animal Control removed 12 animals from a property in Severn, after determining that they were not being properly taken care of. 

The seizure of four horses, five ponies and three goats on Tuesday came after Animal Control discovered a dead horse and two dead baby goats on the property in January. Animal Control officials had been monitoring the property since then, and eventually determined that the remaining animals were not having their basic needs met, according to a press release.

The owners of the animals, however, said they have done nothing wrong, and that several of the seized horses were malnourished or ill when they were acquired only recently. 

See: Owners Say Animals Were Improperly Taken

The property in question is a small farm of about five acres located at the 500 block of Upton Road. It is owned by Donald Sweeney, but some of the animals were owned and cared for by his fiancee, Leah Dorsey, and her father, Ronald Phelps. 

"None of these animals were starving," Phelps said. "They always had something. Nothing was left unadressed. Care has always been taken."

Phelps and Dorsey acknowledged that some of the horses were not in the best health because they were purchased at auction in order to prevent them from being slaughtered. 

"All of these horses were going to the glue factory," Phelps said. 

Animal Control said it first came to the property on January 9 and found the deceased animals. A veterinarian advised officials to leave the remaining animals on the property, but owners were required to give medical attention to the animals, build proper shelters, and clean up the property. The property owner also signed over three ponies to Animal Control, and they were sent to the Days End Horse Farm and Rescue in Woodbine, MD.

Animal Control began regular visits to the property to monitor the animals' health. Officials reported that the animals' health improved for a while, but conditions then declined.

Photos provided by Anne Arundel County Police show horses that appear to be emaciated.

All of the animals were removed from the property and are now under protective custody at the Days End Horse Farm. 

Officials are now working to determine the identity of all of the animals' owners, and continue to investigate the case along with the Office of the Anne Arundel County State's Attorney. No charges have been filed.