'Screams of Terror' Greeted Rescue Workers Who Saved Four Horses

Update: We originally reported that State's Attorney James W. Glasgow would not be pressing charges in accordance with Miller's report. We've since spoken with him and have learned that this is not true and charges have been made. There are corrections in the article that reflect this.

Four maltreated horses found in horrendous living conditions in a Monee barn were rescued by investigators.

According to a report from SSHS's lead animal cruelty investigator, Ashley Miller, and her partner, Andrea Santucci, SSHS visited the horses after receiving a complaint.

Miller said she immediately noticed bad signs upon her arrival.

"(I heard) screams of terror and helplessness," Miller said. "(And) the stench was way worse than any other barn I've experienced."

What Miller saw next, she said, was even more appalling. One horse was standing in a pile of manure as high as a person's waist. Another showed clear physical signs of neglect.

"The mare's hooves were so grown out that they had curled up and out," Miller said. "Both back feet looked like tubas."

The horse had been living in that condition for the past six years. Worse yet, according to Miller, the owners said the 20-plus-year-old horses have never left the barn.

According to the report, Miller was able to convince the owners to relinquish the horses from their terrible living conditions. 

"These horses knew what was going on," said Miller. "They knew they were being saved!"

SSHS Board Member, Pat Frederickson, expressed her gratitude to the anonymous caller who tipped the investigators off.

"I applaud the person or persons who contacted South Suburban Humane Society about this case of neglect," Frederickson said. "That person or persons helped save the lives of these horses yesterday."

Miller said the horses are currently in a "nice, clean, cool, food-filled barn" and volunteer work is already under way to help correct the overgrowth of the mare's hooves.

Frederickson commended Miller and Santucci for their efforts.

"Andrea and Ashley are bona fide heroes," Frederickson said. "Nonprofit animal welfare organizations cannot curb animal abuse and pet overpopulation without the assistance of our volunteers."