Residents press San Diego County to remove neglected horses on Artesian Road; county says inspections ongoing

Dozens of residents and animal‑welfare advocates used the non‑agenda public‑comment period on March 12 to urge the board to remove horses and dogs from a property on Artesian Road, saying the animals lack shelter and are being fed moldy hay.

Speakers described repeated welfare‑check reports and asked the county to send a board‑certified equine veterinarian and pursue enforcement. “This behavior…is not only unacceptable, but is intolerable,” said Zora Fahim, president and founder of Los Angeles Alliance for Animals, who called for aggressive action and prosecution of alleged cruelty cases.

Multiple callers and in‑person speakers gave similar accounts: they said horses are left outside in rain and high winds, are confined to stalls 24 hours a day, and sometimes eat moldy hay. Several asked the county for a third‑party veterinary inspection and immediate removal of animals to protect their health.

Vice Chair Lawson Reimer asked staff for an update. County staff, speaking on behalf of Andrew Strong, general manager for the Public Safety Group, and Yvonne Morris, director of Animal Services, said Animal Services is actively monitoring the property. Staff reported a multi‑agency inspection in November that included an equine veterinarian and said officers conducted follow‑up visits by observing from the road in February, noting animals “appeared to continue to be in good condition” and that owners remained in voluntary compliance with applicable laws.

Staff said public nuisance charges had been filed against the property owner by the district attorney’s office in November, and that one dog had been removed as part of that action. When the vice chair asked when staff would next visit the property, the county said it would not announce specific dates for confidentiality and enforcement reasons but that a follow‑up on‑site visit would occur in the near term and the board and public would be updated at the next meeting.

Speakers pressed the county to do more than welfare checks from the road. Several called for court‑enforceable inspections and independent veterinary assessments. Some asked the county to use its legal authority to obtain entry and document conditions on the property.

The board did not take formal enforcement action during the meeting; staff committed to continued monitoring, a near‑term on‑site visit and to report back to the board at a subsequent meeting.