The El Paso County Sheriff’s Office served the owner of several horses and llamas with a citation for cruelty to animals Monday after an investigation into several dead and neglected horses in Black Forest.
Authorities also seized 10 horses and four llamas from the owner, identified as Sherri Brunzell.
“Sheriff’s office personnel were accompanied by a local veterinarian we have worked with on cases like this in the past,” the office said in a news release.
The Colorado Humane Society, the SPCA and the Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region assisted in removing and transporting the animals to care facilities.
The investigation into animal cruelty began Friday after a woman who lives on a property on the 5400 block of Burgess Road discovered several dead horses covered by tarps in a barn there. The woman also found other horses that appeared to be malnourished, the office said.
Sheriff’s investigators worked with the owners, who they said were cooperative, before Monday’s citation.
The office said at least 12 horses were found dead.
El Paso County Commissioner Darryl Glenn, whose district includes Black Forest, said at a commission meeting Tuesday that he has received more than 1,500 e-mails about the horses, including from as far away as Canada and South Africa, . The newspaper also said the county’s district attorney asked to be involved in the abuse investigation.
Jesse Paul: 303-954-1733, jpaul@denverpost.com or twitter.com/jesseapaul
