There are a eight new charges each of animal cruelty against Donald and Bonnie George, the owners of Painted Meadow Farm, and more charges are pending following the completion of the assignment.
State Police, the American Humane Association and the Cattaraugus County SPCA went to a farm on Elton Road in Farmersville last week, after a complaint from a Cattaraugus County highway employee said a horse was down in a field.
Six hundred animals were on the farm, including sheep, horses, turkeys, chickens and ducks.
Several dogs have been taken away that the SPCA says didn't have proper shelters or licensing. The horse that sparked this investigation had to be euthanized.
"It [was] just in really bad shape, including the hooves and everything. The feet were bad so he couldn't move," said Cynthia Nupp, an animal cruelty investigator with the Cattaraugus County SPCA.
This isn't the first time Bonnie George has been accused of neglect. In 2005, 44 horses were taken from her property for inhumane conditions.
Neighbor Eric Mead said, "There's no shelter for the horses. They're out 24/7 no matter the weather. If it's a blizzard it's just a terrible thing to see."
Over the weekend, members of the community, SPCA employees, and members of the local Amish Community pitched in at the farm to start cleaning up, hauling out, and bringing in donated food and care items.
The SPCA is providing care and feeding the animals with help from the Amish Community and neighbors using donated food.
Veterinarians will be returning to finish assessment of the over 600 animals and to tend to sick animals as well.
