Cross-posted from The Inquisitr »
A California horse auction owner faces felony animal cruelty charges after more than two dozen horses were found near-death or dead on his ranch. A warrant for the arrest of the Yuba County rancher Joe Cardenas was issued late last week. According to the local newspaper, the Appeal-Democrat, Cardenas said someone dropped off the ill horses at his ranch in very poor condition in August.
The probable cause court filing states that animal control officers were at Joe Cardenas’ ranch on May 13 and found at least two horses that were so underweight that the spine, ribs, and hips were clearly visible. The rancher said he took the horses in from a ranch in nearby Sutter County in March. The animal control officers maintain that photos of the horses before they left their former home and the condition in which they were found on the Cardenas’ ranch show a deep decline in health.
The Yuba County District Attorney’s officer reportedly received dozens of phone calls and emails from concerned residents and horse lovers from outside of the region after a local horse shelter became involved in the case. District Attorney Patrick McGrath said his office would be making decisions on the felony charges based not on political pressure but on evidence.
A man identified only as a “retired kill buyer” reportedly called the group and said the rancher had to get rid of some of the horses and had even allegedly talked about just shooting the animals.
Horse Plus Humane Society have the horses in their care. If you wish to help, please go to their donation page and give generously.
“Humanity’s true moral test, its fundamental test consists of its attitude towards those who are at its mercy: animals.”
― Milan Kundera
Tuesday's Horse 
NO WONDER THE WOMAN THAT ALLEGEDLY OWNS THE SKINNY ROAN MARE IS HAVING PROBLEMS GETTING HER HORSE BACK!! THEY WON’T GIVE IT BACK TO AN ABUSIVE SITUATION!!!
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Total lies! NorCal aka Horse Plus Humane is behind this…the 23 horses they said they “rescued” which they paid Joe money for the horses; they sent a known kill buyer to buy the horses. The horses were all fat except the one they posted was a horse Joe took in…he does rescue work too but some people are saying the picture is not of the one skinny horse on his property. And arrest warrant was null and void last Thursday. NorCal contacted Tueday’s Horse to get donations, they work together!! NorCal still will not return the red roan mare they stole from a woman that was boarding her horse at Joe’s ranch. The woman has gone two time to NorCal with bill of sale, registration papers and pictures of her mare (first horse) and NorCal refuses to give her horse back. Yuba County Sheriff/AC refuse to take a stolen horse report they were working with NorCal to file charges against Joe. I hope they don’t kill this poor woman’s mare to get rid of the evidence.
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Thank you. We have been trying to follow up on this and hitting brick walls just about everywhere.
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Just what is wrong with these stinkin Morons????? There is absolutely no excuse for cruelty of the innocent !!!!!!! A fricken disgusting low life should be sent to Prison for the rest of his miserable life !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I have no tolerence for Cowards !!!!! They should pick on somebody their equal, They won,t they would get the crap beat out of themself……………
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What a disgrace! Effing people.
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