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Malnourished horse euthanized after deputies seize nearly 100 animals from Brooksville property

Owner facing animal cruelty charges
Posted at 10:23 PM, Sep 18, 2018
and last updated 2018-09-19 01:34:48-04

BROOKSVILLE, Fla. — Hernando County deputies said nearly 100 animals were seized from a property in Brooksville on Tuesday.

Deputies said some of the animals had no access to food or water.

"We found a horse that seemed to be malnourished and was suffering. We called a vet out to check it out," said Michael Terry, a spokesperson with the Hernando County Sheriff's Office. 

Deputies said that horse was euthanized on the property after it was found in poor condition. None of the images released show the horse that had to be euthanized.

The Hernando County Sheriff's Office said 46-year-old Crystal Crawford is facing animal cruelty charges. She is also facing $46,000 in citations for violating county ordinances. Deputies said some of the animals had no access to food or water. 

"Some animals had injuries that had not been treated, no access to food or water. If a person wasn’t out there caring for them, really depended on their owner to provide them with those things," said Terry.

Animals seized included more than 40 rabbits, 3 dogs, nearly a dozen chickens, ducks, a cockatoo, cats, horses, and a goat. 

Mandy Rowe, an animal enforcement officer, showed us the animals after deputies took them to Hernando County Animal Services. 

"We do our job because we love animals. We're their voice. We have to speak for them because if we do not, nobody will," said Rowe. 

ABC Action News spoke to Crawford, but she did not want to comment.

Deputies said Crawford will appear before a judge who will decide if she is fit to care for animals in the future.