PINEHURST, Idaho-- Deputies in Shoshone County are investigating a case of animal cruelty in Pinehurst, Idaho.
Six horses are living tied to posts or trees around the clock. The horses are clearly neglected.
A neighbor says he's seen owner David Griffin primarily feed the horses bread piled up in the yard. The neighbor says he has notices they’re getting skinnier.
Pan Handle Equine Rescue travels around North Idaho helping neglected and abused horses. Their president Tony Mangan and KREM 2 News’ Cole Heath asked Griffin why the hoses are constantly tied up and so skinny.
He said “I tied them up so I can use the water and food as a bargaining chip to get to be friends with the horse and calm them down.”
Griffin said he loves his horses and does feed them hay.
Investigators tell us they've charged Griffin at least twice with animal cruelty. Those charges were dismissed.
Idaho joins the Dakotas as the only states without strict animal cruelty laws.
Mangan says current laws for animal neglect carry a misdemeanor and a fine. Panhandle Equine Rescue is trying to change that. They've created an initiative to increase penalties for animal abuse such as making animal cruelty a felony with jail time for severe cases, and for repeat offenders.
Deputies say they will take a look at the horses we saw today and investigate.
