After a massive outcry on social media, a West Virginia horse rescue group has taken in a Kitts Hill mare and two other horses after the owner surrendered them.

On Friday afternoon, Heart of Phoenix Equine Rescue met with animal control and the owner surrendered the three horses to the county that were then signed over to Heart of Phoenix.

“We are told there were three others on site that will be signed over to local facility,” the group wrote on a Facebook post. “We saw one other horse on site while there beyond the three we accepted. We have heard there were more than six horses there from concerned locals, but that is not something we personally can verify. We hope all horses, however many, get what they need.”

Lawrence County Sheriff Jeff Lawless said he and Humane Agent Drew Artis were happy to announce a positive resolution regarding the recent concerns over the horses in the Kitts Hill area.

“After ongoing discussions and a thorough review of the situation, the family that owns the horses has voluntarily agreed to surrender them to Heart of Phoenix, and the Ohio Horse Park, both a trusted organization specializing in the care and rehabilitation of equines” Lawless said in press release. “This decision reflects the family’s willingness to prioritize the well-being of the animals and work toward a solution in cooperation with all parties involved.”

He added that the horses’ owner has agreed to refrain from housing equine animals on the property.

“The Sheriff’s Office and Humane Agent remain committed to the fair and transparent handling of all investigations, and we appreciate the community’s trust as we navigate these sensitive situations” Lawless said. “Heart of Phoenix, and the Ohio Horse Park will now oversee the care and rehabilitation of the horses, and we are confident they will receive the attention and support they need.”

Heart of Phoenix Equine Rescue posted that they “say is this mare has suffered a lot of neglect, and we can say the owner, once we knew the name, had applied to adopt from us in 2020. When processing the application, it did not pass out standards by a large margin. We declined the application. This shows application screening works.”

The group said that since the photo was shared last week, the mare’s mane has been shaved and her tail was cut.

“That’s a shame because these are things good grooming could have gotten untangled,” the group said, adding the mare seems to have no vision in the left eye and it is actively painful and tearing; her feet aren’t especially long but do seem neglected; and her teeth are a mess. “She is aged, for sure. She seems a kind soul. We have named her Callisto.”

The group said that the two geldings are in better condition, with the younger one is not underweight but lacks training and is need of a farrier and vet care. The other senior gelding seems to have dental issues and very neglected feet, but he is not particularly underweight. The said a vet and a farrier will be checking on all three of the horses.

“We appreciate Lawrence County, Ohio listening to the concerns of the public in their area and looking further into this situation. We appreciate the animal control officer meeting us to allow us to move these three horses and for his help. We appreciate the family of the owner working it out to where these three horses could be turned over to us, ultimately,” the group wrote. “Is this a perfect outcome? Well, things rarely go ideally. We are glad to have been able to help these three get what they need, and each had a specific need, for sure.”

The Heart of Phoenix group is asking for donations to help these three horses and other horses they will be taking in soon.

To make find out more about the rescue group, go to their Facebook page, www.facebook.com/HeartofPhoenixEquinerescue.

Lawless thanked the public for their patience and support as they worked toward this resolution.

“Your voices have highlighted the importance of ensuring proper care for these animals,” he said. “This collaboration demonstrates that when we work together, we can achieve meaningful outcomes.”