Man charged in horse cruelty case gives up ownership

New York Newsday
By Laura Riviera

OCTOBER 9, 2008 — The Aquebogue man charged with torturing and injuring animals in the case of five emaciated horses has relinquished ownership of the horses, authorities said.

The horses are now owned by the Suffolk County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, which seized them from a stable in Central Islip last month, saying they were "in danger of dying." The horses are recovering under the care of Wayne Dougal, owner of Indian Head Ranch in Huntington.

On Tuesday, Salvatore Gandolfo turned the horses over to the SPCA, which withdrew a request for Suffolk District Court to levy a $7,500 fee for the horses' care, prosecutors said.

"He is free and clear of the horses," said SPCA chief Roy Gross, who attended a hearing yesterday on the case. "He has nothing to do with them. He can't claim them back."

About 10 supporters of the horses also appeared in court, handing out ribbons for the horses, known as "the Central Islip five." Horse owner Carol Slack was so moved by the horses' plight that she decided to make orange ribbons to help raise funds for them.

Separately, a Huntington horse supply store is soliciting donated grooming kits, blankets and nutrition supplements for the rescued horses. Calling the operation "Keep the Five Alive," the owners of Boots, Bridles, and Britches on West Jericho Turnpike have partnered with the SPCA to collect funds to pay for the rehabilitation of the horses.

At Indian Head Ranch, vets have treated Teddy, Breezy, Everett, Misty and Belle, and farriers have trimmed and picked their hoofs, some of which were infected with maggots.

The horses, some of which Dougal said were about 300 pounds underweight when he first received them, have been eating hay and mash and drinking as many as six buckets of water a day. "They're real bright-eyed and eating like they were starved," Dougal said.

Gandolfo, 55, is charged with five counts of torturing and injuring animals and has pleaded not guilty. He is scheduled to appear in Suffolk District Court on Oct. 28.