Dead Pony, Emaciated Horses Found On North Philadelphia Property
By Steve Beck, Dray Clark
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – A dead pony and three horses were found in North Philadelphia Tuesday, SPCA officials said. Officials say two of the found horses are not in good condition.
The discovery was made Tuesday morning in the 3200 block of N. 11th Street near Allegheny Avenue.
According to officials with the Pennsylvania SPCA, an officer drove by the location Tuesday morning and spotted what he believed to be a dead pony. When SPCA officers arrived at the location, they found the dead pony.
In addition, the officers also found three horses that were being kept in a makeshift stable. SPCA officers said two of the horses were emaciated and are in bad shape.
SPCA officers say the property has unsanitary conditions, unsafe surroundings, and there's a lack of vet care for the animals. They say they have been monitoring the location for some time due to unsanitary conditions.
The owner told Eyewitness News that he fed the pony on Monday and when he left the property, everything seemed fine. The owner, William Benjamin, disagreed with the SPCA's assessment that the property was unfit.
In October, SPCA officers were at the same location and removed two horses.
Officials with the PSPCA, as well Philadelphia police and Licenses and Inspections officials, were at the scene.
It is legal to own horses in the city of Philadelphia as long as they are properly cared for.
