SHELBY COUNTY, Tenn. — A Memphis man faces several animal cruelty charges this week after investigators say they found four horses in such poor condition one had to be euthanized.
Brian Jefferson was taken into custody Monday after Shelby County deputies responded to a complaint in the 4900 block of Egypt Central Road in January 2020.
Deputies say the four horses were eating bark off trees because they had no food. One horse, a 22-25-year-old saddle horse, was malnourished, unable to stand up and covered in rain rot fungus, deputies said — that horse was put down.
Jefferson, the horses’ owner, told investigators that someone was supposed to be feeding them, but hadn’t. He surrendered the other three horses, which were taken to a rescue facility.
The head of the rescue organization where three horses — Eagle, Hawk and Cherish — were taken said they’ve all been rehabbed and adopted to happy homes.
Jefferson is charged with three charges of animal cruelty, and one felony charge of aggravated animal cruelty.
A woman who said she’s Jefferson’s sister claimed Tuesday that the horses were not his, but he let friends keep them on his property.
“The property didn’t have any food, any foliage, anything there. The horses were in pretty bad shape,” said Lori Collins, the Director of Redemption Road Rescue.
Collins, who has dedicated her life to helping these animals, said cases like this one happen more than you think.
“It’s really common. It happens a lot. I think a lot of people don’t understand what they’re getting into when they get horses. The sheer cost of it is extremely high and it takes a lot of time. When it’s freezing cold outside you still have to go out and take care of your horses,” Collins said.
For more information on Redemption Road Rescue, click here.