Dozens of animals were seized from a North Haven farm Wednesday. Animal control says it seized 15 malnourished horses and other animals after a months-long investigation.
The farms owner Gina Rapuano was visibly shaken as her animals were bring hauled away, "how could they still be alive at 32 if I wasn't taking care of them. What do you do put them down for these people to make it better?"
State Animal Control and North Haven Police officers knocked on Rapuano’s door this morning just after 9:30 a.m. with a search and seizure warrant in hand.
They had gotten complaints from neighbors about the animals at the Rambling River Ranch and after a quick look around, those complaints were confirmed.
"Horses in bad condition, ribs showing, sores on the horses, bad hooves, small animals on the property that weren’t being care for property," says Ray Connors, a supervisor at State Animal Control.
All together 14 horses, 2 ponies, 3 mules and a goat were rescued from the farm.
Smaller animals including birds, dogs, rabbits, ferrets and a cat were captured in a converted shed. All of them were underfed say officials but Rapuano has a different story.
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"The Humane Society has come over the years though complaints. If I have one thin horse or two thin horses, they'll come down every time they get a complaint. They just came down last week and she said there was no problem."
Rapuano says she also just got out the hospital after being hit by one of her horses. "In the last week the stalls weren’t done so the stalls look horrible but there’s plenty of grain plenty of hay and they were fed everyday," she said.
All of the animals seized are now going to be rehabilitated as this possible case of animal neglect and abuse goes to court.
