Authorities found 27 dead horses scattered over Jan Johnson’s several ranches in Clements, California, on Wednesday, leading to her arrest.
As part of an ongoing investigation into animal mistreatment, investigators from the San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office and Animal Services issued a search warrant, which led to the arrest. J
Johnson, who lives in the small town about 40 miles southeast of Sacramento, was arrested on a number of serious offenses, including possession of a short-barrel shotgun, criminal threats, animal cruelty, and threatening a public official.
“During the operation, several malnourished horses were discovered on the premises with limited access to any food or water and approximately 27 deceased horses were located,” the San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office stated in a Facebook post.
As part of a broader inquiry into animal cruelty, the hunt got underway. When sheriff’s deputies and Animal Services officials showed up at Johnson’s premises, they were met with the sobering truth of extreme abuse and neglect.
As soon as the officers arrived on the property, they started sorting and assessing the horses. For the officials concerned, the spectacle was both overpowering and devastating.
They found that four horses and one bull had been neglected to the point where their condition was so bad that they needed to be put down to stop them from suffering any more.
Because of the harsh circumstances they had experienced, the animals’ health had declined past the point of recuperation.
But many of the other horses discovered on the farms also had better outcomes as a result of the search. 16 horses in all were saved from the scene.
The Oakdale Equine Rescue, a group devoted to the rehabilitation of abandoned and neglected horses, took these animals into their care right away.
The rescued horses will receive much-needed medical care, nourishment, and rehabilitation from Oakdale Equine Rescue to aid in their physical and mental recovery from their trauma. The horses’ lives were saved and they were given a chance at a better future thanks to the rescue efforts.
The sheriff’s office stated that they were still assessing the matter because of the magnitude of Johnson’s estates. Authorities kept evaluating the condition of the other animals they discovered throughout the hunt to make sure no more maltreatment had taken place.
Although it was not immediately apparent how widespread the abuse and neglect were at Johnson’s estates, the information that had been gathered so far showed a startling lack of concern for the welfare of the animals.
Animal rights activists are outraged at Jan Johnson’s arrest, denouncing the abuse and praising the authorities’ prompt action.
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The sheriff’s office promised to keep looking into the matter, and Animal Services officers and vets put in countless hours to give the rescued animals immediate care and support. If Johnson is found guilty of the charges against her, there might be serious legal repercussions.
Thanks to the efforts of law police and animal rescue organizations, the horses and other animals who were caught in this terrible scenario are currently getting the attention they sorely need.
