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ENOCH — A horse owner is under investigation for animal cruelty after a starving horse was pulled from ice and mud in southern Utah.
The horse, Elsa, was given just two hours to live when crews rescued it the last week of December. Elsa was thin, starving, and unable to stand without a sling, according to Sgt. Mike Berg. Crews had to put Elsa on a crate and then drag her to a trailer. Berg said a neighbor fashioned a sling to hold Elsa up.
"They stood her and lowered the sling a little below her, and she was able to stand for 10 to 15 minutes before she collapsed," Berg said. "We are seeing some considerable progress at this point."
Rescuers got Elsa and her mother to treatment at Dust Devil Ranch Horse Sanctuary in Cedar City, Berg said. She is doing a lot better
"We gave it a 60 to 70 percent chance of survival," Berg said, "just from loss of warm fluids and just a lot of care from the rescue groups."
He said the owners could not afford to care for the animals anymore, but he said that's no excuse.
"If it's pride, if it's — whatever the reason — if people just communicate with us we can usually get them some help," Berg said.
That help could include treatment or safe surrender, according to Berg.
