SNOW HILL - Greene County authorities found two horses that had been dead for several days and 14 more malnourished in a pasture on Burrelfield Road on Tuesday afternoon, Greene County Health Director Michael Rhodes said.
“We had a phone call from a concerned citizen, saying that they thought that a horse had died in a pasture,” he said.
Within the hour, authorities arrived at the pasture off U.S. 13 South and observed the horses' condition and lack of food and water.
“One was very young -- a colt,” he said.
The horses belonged to Carl Davis, who lives in Wayne County. Rhodes said Davis told him the horses hadn't been fed for more than a month. Animal cruelty charges are pending.
"(Davis) understands the situation," Rhodes said. "He actually signed the horses over to the county. Those horses are ours now."
A Greenville equine veterinarian has checked out the horses and authorities are in the process of caring for them and moving them to a “protected pastureland,” he said.
Rhodes said Davis gave no reason why he hadn't fed the horses, however, he came to the property daily to feed another horse in an adjoining pasture because it was his father's horse.
"That horse was being fed and watered and was in great health," Rhodes said, adding Davis also has about 50 more horses in Wayne County.
Rhodes said authorities in Wayne County have been alerted to the situation.
"We will be adopting them out once they are healthy again," Rhodes said about the 14 malnourished horses.
The health department is seeking donations for feed to restore the animals’ health so they can be adopted, he said.
To donate money for horse feed, call Greene County Health Department at 252-747-8181.
Margaret Fisher can be reached at 252-559-1082 or Margaret.Fisher@Kinston.com. Follow her on Twitter @MargaretFishr.