A North Port man was arrested Thursday evening after discovering that he was severely negligent in caring for two horses, leaving them visibly malnourished.
Deputies responded to the area of Albin Avenue in North Port around noon on Thursday for a report of a stray horse wandering in the road. The responding deputy located the horse and transported it safely back to its pasture on Malton Street. Deputies questioned the owner, identified as William Dufresne, and learned that he owned two horses and kept both in the same pasture.
The pasture was in poor condition, with no grass for grazing and lacking the necessary feed to nourish the horses.
Both horses were transported to a care facility for treatment.
During the investigation, deputies found that Dufresne had been reported in December and was made aware that he needed to improve the quality of care for both of the horses.
Durfresne is charged with two counts of Animal Cruelty: Aggravated and two counts of Confinement of an Animal without food. He was released early Friday morning on $4,000 bond.
