The Grady County Sheriff’s Office is asking for help in taking care of six of the horses rescued from the area of a meth lab last Tuesday.

Seven horses were rescued from the home of Jorge Ochoa-Pando, 34, Tuesday, Oct. 4, after a grass fire alerted Grady County Sheriff’s Deputies to a possible meth lab at the Bradley home.

Ochoa-Pando reportedly told officers that the horses were his and had not been fed or watered in a week and a half.

Both Ochoa-Pando and his wife Dora Maria Ochoa, 32, were arrested on drug charges and Ochoa-Pando had an additional seven charges of animal cruelty.

Dora Maria Ochoa was released on Wednesday, Oct. 5, after the District Attorney’s Office declined to file charges on her. Ochoa-Pando was released on bond on Thursday, Oct. 6.

Sheriff Kieran McMullen said the District Attorney’s Office has legally advised him that the horses are to be disposed of through auction once they are close to healthy again.

One of the horses was returned to its original owner. McMullen said the woman had proof of ownership of one of the geldings, and said that Ochoa-Pando had purchased the horse but not paid for it.

The remaining six horses are currently being held on an undisclosed farm for their safety. Sheriff McMullen said basic veterinary care for the horses has been donated by Cimarron Veterinary Clinic, and horse-shoeing service have also been donated by an individual.

While deputies have covered some of the expenses of keeping the horses out of their own pockets, McMullen said they could use financial help in taking care of the animals.

The horses are in need of hay and feed, and two of the horses have advanced medical needs. One of the horses has a swollen third eyelid that will cared for and a second horse has a cyst on its hoof.

McMullen said the Sheriff’s Office would retain custody of the horses for two to three weeks to get them back to good health, after which time they will be auctioned off. McMullen said there have been attempts by the family to get the horses back. He said he received a call from the wife’s attorney, claiming that the horses were hers and not her husbands and that she wanted them back. McMullen explained that if the horses are hers, then the charges of animal cruelty would also be hers. The sheriff said the attorney he would need to check with the family, and as of yet has not called back.

If you would like to make a donation to the care of the six horses, contact the Grady County Sheriff’s Office at 222-1000.

Source: Chickasha Express-Star