The condition of 19 animals seized in the town of Cato is the worst Jamie Christianson has ever seen.

"Pretty much every animal there was malnourished to some degree," Christianson, of Valders, said. "There were three we didn't think would make it. With some of the animals, you could count every rib and feel their spines."

Cato Constable Scott Gerard seized the animals on June 19 following an anonymous tip that the animals were living in squalid conditions.

When Gerard arrived at the farm, which he did not identify, some of the animals were in pens along with "three- to four-foot piles of manure," he said.

The animals include horses, donkeys, llamas, sheep, goats, dogs and a rabbit, Gerard said.

The majority of the animals were transported to Gerard's hobby farm in Cato. Three animals were taken to Christianson's parent's farm just west of Valders.

Numerous volunteers have provided care to the seized animals, nursing them back to health, Gerard said.  Christianson said volunteers considered euthanizing some of the animals because of the animals' poor condition.  "It was the worst case I've seen in my life," said Christianson, who has had horses his entire life.  Christianson said many of the animals will never be 100 percent.

Christianson is donating his services and time as a farrier, a person trained to clip and shape the hoofs of an animal. Without proper hoof care, an animal's skeletal structure can be permanently damaged. Christianson said he used power tools to clip and shape the horses' hoofs. Usually, he only uses large clippers.   "The skeletal structure will never be the same again," Gerard said.

Gerard said farriers trim and shape animal hoofs about once every two months. Christianson said he's worked with the seized animals three times a week since the animals were surrendered.  Christianson said that isn't enough.  "I'm trying to increase my time with them, but right now I have a lot of irons in the fire," Christianson said.  Christianson said the health of the animals is improving.  "They are gaining weight, which is good," he said. "They just need some tender loving care."

The animals, when seized, were essentially wild with little interaction with humans, Christianson said. Volunteers were bruised and kicked by the animals as the volunteers tried to care for them.  "I don't think it's a case of abuse, but neglect," Christianson said. "These animals were simply neglected."

Gerard has forwarded the file to the Manitowoc County Sheriff's Department, which is reviewing the case.  Gerard said once the animals are healthy, they will be adopted. Most of the animals are spoken for, as the volunteers are interested in continuing care for the animals.

Gerard said without the volunteers, the animals would suffer more.

"(My wife, Denice, and I) work full-time jobs and when we aren't working there, we are working with these animals," Gerard said. "Without the volunteers, this would have been an overwhelming job for me and my wife."

One farmer has donated a large bale of hay for animal feed. Other farriers have donated time and Seven Lakes Golf Club and Piggly Wiggly in Valders donated food to feed the volunteers, Gerard said.

"Every day since (June 22) I've had a handful of volunteers helping out," Gerard said. "It's been awesome."

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