This is one of the horses rescued from Fairy Tail Equine. Photo via Connecticut Department of Agriculture/Facebook

A Connecticut couple was arrested this past Friday following an animal cruelty investigation. Melanie Olajos, 37, and Thomas Olajos, 36, own Fairy Tail Equine, a breeding facility of Andalusians, Friesians and Gypsy Horses in East Hampton that was subject to investigation by the Department of Agriculture in Connecticut. The couple had 78 chickens, 32 horses, 19 rabbits and two Great Danes at the facility. Officers told WFSB that “the couple failed to provide proper food, water and veterinary care to their animals despite state officials’ allowance to let them voluntarily improve conditions.”

WFSB reports that the dogs had fleas, lacked muscle and were so emaciated that their ribs and vertebrae were visible through their coats; the chickens were malnourished and lacked adequate water; the rabbits were in dirty cages and the horses “were neglected and underweight. Some of their hooves and teeth were in poor condition.”

WFSB 3 Connecticut

As a result, Melanie and Thomas Olajos have been charged with 35 counts of animal cruelty and the animals were taken from the property on Feb. 2. Most of the animals are now at shelters throughout Connecticut. The horses are at the Department of Agriculture’s Second Chance animal rehabilitation facility. The Department of Agriculture is seeking formal custody of the horses.

The Olajos couple was released on $10,000 bonds, according to WFSB. Their court date is scheduled for Mar. 15.

If you wish to donate to the care and rehabilitation of these horses, visit Connecticut Grown Store here.