Horse abuse is on the rise in Louisiana according to the Humane Socieity. 

In December of last year and earlier this year, the group responded to complaints involving the neglect of a dozen horses in Lafourche Parish. Sheriff deputies charged the owners with aggravated cruelty to animals, and the horses were finally surrendered to the Humane Society. At the same time, calls involving other starving horses came in from Ascension, Catahoula, and Beauregard parishes. 

In each situation, the group discovered one or more horses that had been severely abused and neglected; all of them were underweight and lacking proper veterinary care. Often, investigators from the Humane Society will work closely with law enforcement agencies in their investigations involving horse abuse by accepting surrendered horses or by providing vital veterinary care, feed, and manpower.

The Humane Society says the absolute minimum annual cost of owning a horse is close to $2,000 a year.