***WARNING*** PICTURES IN THIS STORY VERY GRAPHIC; MAY BE DISTURBING
HENRYETTA, Okla. -- The McIntosh County Sheriff's Office is investigating an animal cruelty case after disturbing pictures of horses that appear to be starved appeared on Facebook.
With a bucket in hand, Sally Strong throws grain at more than a dozen horses.
“My granddaughter is 5 and the first thing she said to me is, ‘Mimi can we buy that horse?'" she said. "It’s sick."
The horses don't belong to Strong, but she sure wishes they did.
“There used to be 20 and I'm only counting 12," Strong said.
She has kept a watchful eye for quite some time. She drives the same dirt road daily on the way to pick up her grandchildren from school.
Tuesday, Strong saw a dead horse lying in the pasture.
“You just literally see all their ribs and hip bones," she said.
McIntosh County Sheriff’s Office is now investigating animal cruelty.
“Don’t let them just die like this," Strong said. "It’s cruelty.”
While searching the property, detectives say they saw no sign of grain or hay. Four horses were found dead.
“If there is a question on whether it is or isn’t we normally have the opinion of a vet for our case that’s then sent over to the district attorneys office," McIntosh County Sheriff Detective Kevin Branscum said.
Strong wants the property owner to be held accountable.
“How would he like to be tied up and nobody feed or water him?" she said.
No matter the cost, Sally Strong will continue fill the bucket with grain until the horses are healthy.
The property owner's fiance allowed investigators on the property. She did not want to go on camera. Detectives believe the case should be handed over to the DA within the next couple of days.
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