Emaciated abandoned horses living among rubbish dumps and manure found by Guardia Civil in Southern Spain

SEVEN malnourished abandoned horses have been found living among manure, rubbish dumps and sharp objects on the Costa Blanca.

A neighbour alerted officials to the animal abuse, in which the horses were living on a private finca in Mutxamel in Alicante.

La Guardia Civil found the starving animals with empty food bowls and hardly any water.

The owner – a 24-year-old Spanish man – is currently being investigated by the Servicio de Protección de la Naturaleza (Seprona) for crimes related to the protection of flora, fauna and domestic animals.

He could be facing up to a year in prison.

The finca and stables were found covered in mud, with manure and piles of rubbish stretching as far as the riding school.

Officials also found a number of sharp objects which could severely injure the animals, such as a pitchfork and scissors.

During the inspection officials discovered the horses were suffering from symptoms of malnutrition and neglect, such as extreme emaciation and a lack of hygiene.

While the horses did not have adequate medical documentation, they were also not legally registered with the Ayuntamiento.

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