BEXAR COUNTY, Texas – In a shocking case of animal cruelty, a man has been accused of neglecting a horse and pony on his property, leaving them severely malnourished, according to the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office.
The incident came to light on Aug. 5, 2024, when deputies responded to the property in the 500 block of Shagbark to investigate reports of animal cruelty.
Upon arrival, deputies were informed by a resident that a family member owned the neglected horse and pony, with the horse wandering onto the property and the pony reportedly purchased from a flea market, as per BCSO.
The horse and pony were found in a stall with three empty buckets, showing signs of severe malnourishment, with visible bones, highlighting the extent of their neglect.
Upon being removed from the stall, the hungry animals immediately began to eat grass, indicating their desperate need for sustenance.
The property owner, 36-year-old Alfredo Farias Jr., confessed to stealing the horse but claimed he had bought the pony subsequently, although he failed to provide receipts for the purchase, according to BCSO.
Farias mentioned having photos of the emaciated horse and pony prior to taking custody of them, yet he could not produce said photos when asked by deputies, further complicating the case.
Despite being aware of their poor condition, Farias allegedly failed to provide appropriate medical care to the suffering horse and pony, leading to his arrest and subsequent charge of cruelty to livestock animals, a state jail felony.
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