The Fulton County Sheriff's Office, with assistance from the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty of Animals (ASPCA), the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), and the American Humane Society recently seized 117 horses from a farm in Viola, Ark.

Authorities issued a warrant Dec. 9 for the removal of the horses, based on multiple reports of suspected animal neglect over a seven-month period. The farm was operated by a man who buys horses at auctions for resale.

Upon arriving at the scene, responders discovered several dead animals on the property, and many horses showed various degrees of neglect, including fractures and untreated infections.

Kyle Held, the Midwest director of ASPCA Field Investigations and Response, said the ASPCA spent the last few days collecting evidence and evaluating the health of the horses on the property. "We are doing everything we can to quickly address the critical cases, and we are happy to be moving the horses to a temporary shelter," he added