El Dorado County saddled with caring for 91 horses
By Richard Chang, Sacramento Bee
A longtime animal rescue group has run out of cash, leaving El Dorado County officials scrambling to provide care to an unprecedented 91 horses.
The nonprofit Grace Foundation was formally evicted Nov. 20 from a private ranch off Latrobe Road after losing its insurance, said the foundation’s executive director, Beth DeCaprio. Since then, 91 horses, along with several goats, chickens and pigs, have been placed in the protective custody of El Dorado County Animal Services.
Local authorities are responsible for impounding animals that remain following an eviction in accordance with state law. But the case has tested the capabilities of the county’s animal services agency.
“It’s not cheap to feed that many animals,” said El Dorado County Animal Services Chief Henry Brzezinski. “We’re talking 91 horses and multiple miscellaneous livestock.”
