(October 5, 2009)

ALICE--Jim Wells County investigators are calling it one of the worst animal cruelty cases they've seen. So far, they haven't arrested anyone, but animal control officers did seize nearly 3-dozen animals from a private home.

The owners told investigators they were taking care of the animals, but when investigators saw the horses, pigs and chickens, it was a different story.

This 15-acre home on County Road 117 in Alice looks normal, but it was here where animal control workers seized several animals, including horses, pigs, and chickens.

The horses were malnourished and reported to be 300 to 400 pounds underweight. They even found one dead horse on the property.

"Took pictures of a remains of a horse that had been there for awhile," said Jim Wells County Animal Control Officer Joaquin Galan. "It was pretty much bones left. The horses were so malnourished that was horrible. The horses were in deplorable conditions."

Inside the pig pen, there were show pigs and wild hogs.

"The pigs were in knee deep of mud," Officer Galan said. "It was slimy matter. It was green. It wasn't very sanitary at all."

Authorities said the chickens were in bad condition, too and you could see how one was still suffering from living at this home. Cats were caged up without a litter box and in their feces.

The Frost family owns these animals but weren't available to talk about the conditions.

"The owner said they have been feeding and watering their animals and taken them to the vet," said Officer Galan. 

Investigators said an investigation has showed so far the family hasn't bought feed for these animals in recent months. Thursday, they'll be in court to talk to a judge about the animals, hoping to get them back.

--Manuel De La Rosa, Area 3 News, mdelarosa@kiiitv.com