BROOKLYN (WKOW) -
Animal services is closely monitoring the condition of some horses, on a farm on Highway D in Brooklyn.
Public health officials tell us they have received two recent complaints about animals on the property not being fed or watered regularly.
"We've been monitoring the owner for quite some time," said Doug Voegeli, the Director of Environmental Services for Public Health Madison & Dane County. He says an abatement order was issued to the owner, Mary Loeffelholz, after an initial complaint about the condition of the horses in 2008.
"Improvements were made and standards were met," Voegeli said, adding that the owner was meeting regulations even after the abatement order expired in May 2001.
But Voegeli says they noticed a decline in the animals' health this past March and April. They were not being fed and watered regularly, but after an official spoke with Loeffelholz, Voegeli says the owner is again meeting the minimum requirements of state regulations.
"We're always going to try and give as much due process as possible to have that owner comply," Voegeli said.
Voegeli says public health officials will meet next Monday to talk about this case and whether to issue another abatement order, which would set requirements for the owner in caring for the animals.
"The next step is, if the animals health continues to deteriorate, that we would go in and seize the animals," Voegeli said.
Loeffelholz chose not to speak with 27 News on Thursday.
