Deputies: Waxhaw Man Arrested After Horses Found Starving And Eating Tree Bark

WAXHAW, N.C. — The Union County Sheriff’s Office says they arrested a man after they found his horses starving and eating tree bark.

Benjamin Moore, 47, of Waxhaw, was charged with two counts of misdemeanor animal cruelty and one count of allowing livestock to roam freely.

Last August, Animal Services deputies responded to a call at Moore’s residence concerning two horses in the roadway, according to a news release.  Deputies say they found the horses’ owner, Moore, putting them back into their pasture.  Deputies say they noticed both horses appeared thin and the pasture forage was thin.

Moore told deputies that he was supplementing their feed with grain so the deputies recommended that Moore have the horses checked out by a vet, according to a news release.

Deputies say they were called back to Moore’s address last month after neighbors reported the horses appeared to be starving and were eating tree bark.  In addition, deputies say the fencing for the pasture was still down in several places allowing the horses to get loose and into the roadway.

Deputies say after ignoring repeated requests to have the horses examined by a vet, repairing the fence around the pasture and providing adequate food supply for the horses, deputies returned to Moore’s residence on January 17th with a search warrant and seized the horses.

The horses are now in the care of a local rescue organization.