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EASTON, Conn. The five horses seized from Pee Wee Horse Farm in an animal cruelty investigation are thriving in their new home in a Niantic facility, said Ray Connors, the supervisor for the state Animal Control Division.
The owner of Pee Wee Horse Farm, Apollonio Paul Vittorio, was arrested Thursday by the Easton Police Department and charged with six counts of animal cruelty in a state arrest warrant.
The charges stem from an ongoing investigation by state animal control officers, who say they received several complaints about the condition of the horses at the Silver Hill Road farm.
The six counts facing Vittorio were broken down into five counts for each horse seized and one count for the lack of shelter for 30 horses at the farm, Connors said. The horses are now at the York Correctional Facility, where prisoners are taking care of them under state supervision.
The horses are getting medical treatment and a proper diet at the facility and gaining the weight lost while staying at Pee Wee Farm, Connors said.
One horse, Blackie, who had trouble walking due to severe abscesses on his hooves, is now moving around and getting better each day, Connors said.
The care of the animals is being paid for by the Animal Abuse Cost Recovery Account, which supported solely of donations. Donations can be made by check to the Animal Abuse Cost Recovery Account, Department of Agriculture, 165 Capital Ave., Hartford, CT 06106.
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