Neglected horses "near death" will be taken in by non-profit horse rescue

JAMES ISLAND, SC (WCSC) - Elizabeth Steed, the founder of the Livestock and Equine Awareness and Rescue Network, fought back emotion as she examined the horses she was called to check on.

"This kind of starvation, that would probably take about three-and-a-half, four months."

The horses have been living on a property off of Folly Road since earlier this year, but Steed says their condition has been deteriorating for much longer.  She says they're not vaccinated, and one of the horses has an eye ulcer.

"They have to get in our care immediately. These animals are critical. In another five to seven days these animals aren't going to be alive."

The property owner says they're not his horses, but belong to the man who rents the property next door.

He says he allows the animals to graze on his land and cares for them as best as he can. On Tuesday Charleston County animal control issued the property owner $1092 fine for each horse.

Steed says she will pick the horses up Thursday morning and begin nursing them back to health.

"Just knowing that these guys are out here and they're hungry. They're thirsty. They have no shelter, and they're obviously in distress. These guys don't feel good. It's hard for me to sleep knowing that these guys are going to be here suffering through the night."