A Cape Cod horse farm is under investigation for animal cruelty after photos of emaciated horses and ponies surfaced
The photos show animals so thin that their ribs, spines, and hips jut out from beneath their coats.
A Cape Cod horse farm is being investigated for animal cruelty after photos circulated on social media Monday depicting emaciated horses and ponies.
The photos, which Renee Desrosiers said she took at Smithfield Farm in Falmouth, show animals so thin that their ribs, spines, and hips jut out from beneath their coats.
When a commenter asked Desrosiers if she took the photos, she replied “Yes, and touched their bony bodies and looked into [their] blank eyes. This is sad and infuriating.”
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Rob Halpin, a spokesman for the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, confirmed that the organization opened an investigation into the farm. He said investigators visited the farm Tuesday.
The MSPCA receives around 1,500 to 2,000 animal cruelty complaints each year, Halpin said. Only about 25 turn into active investigations.
A standard animal cruelty investigation involves interviewing whomever reported the alleged cruelty, interviewing those accused, gathering photos, video, and witnesses, and seeing if the evidence gathered is strong enough to take the matter to court.
Smithfield Farm’s website says it was established in 2000 and, “Its primary goal is the breeding, training, and showing of American Paint Horse.”
The Falmouth Enterprise reported in 2014 that the farm sat on a 27-acre property and was home to 62 horses.
The farm sells, leases, and boards horses, offers lessons, and hosts a summer camp, according to its website. The page also says the farm has eight certified instructors who offer lessons every day form 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
A phone number listed for Smithfield Farm did not return multiple calls for comment, and its voicemail box was full.
The Massachusetts Farm Bureau Federation gave Smithfield the 2018 Horse Farm of Distinction award, which its website says was developed to “recognize Massachusetts horse farms that achieve a level of excellence in overall horse health, farm management and compliance with public safety.”
Desrosiers, who posted the photos of the gaunt animals, wrote in a statement that she doesn’t want to be seen as a hero.
“I took those pictures and shared them with the hopes of giving these poor animals a voice,” the statement read. “I let the public see what I saw and to feel as I did.”
She said she felt desperate to help and sick to her stomach at the condition of the animals.
“I hope the animals get the help they desperately need and that the people involved get some help too,” she wrote. “It is very sad.”
