8:56 am CST January 20, 2006

OMAHA, Neb. -- Douglas County deputies and Humane Society officials said a case of animal abuse and neglect outside Waterloo is the worst they've seen.

Workers discovered dead and neglected animals Thursday morning on a farm in rural Douglas County between Elkhorn and Waterloo. Thursday night, Humane Society workers were feeding, cuddling and caring for some of the animals they rescued from the farm, but two horses had to be euthanized because they were in such bad shape when investigators found them.

'The feet weren't taken care of,' said Dr. Steve White, a veterinarian involved in the investigation. 'They were just allowed to grow, so they can just kept growing and curled around.'

The animals were among the close to 60 living and dead animals investigators found living in deplorable conditions on the farm, which sits near the Elkhorn River...

It's so bad, the building inspector said, that the owners of the farm will have to leave because their home is uninhabitable.

The owners of the animals are facing several charges of animal cruelty . Half of the animals investigators seized are healthy and will be OK.

The owners could get the animals back if they fix the damage to their home and prove to investigators they can take care of their animals.

• Read the full story.


• Read the previous KETV.com story: "50-60 Animals Found Living In Squalor" - January 19, 2006