Eleven horses and a dog found on an abandoned southwest Miami-Dade County farm among the carcasses and skeletons of other horses are receiving treatment.
The horses and the paralyzed pit bull, which once was used for dog fighting, were rescued from the abandoned farm Sunday. Rescuers also found at least seven horse skeletons at the scene.
Moon's Treasure, a neglected thoroughbred racehorse, is among the survivors.
"He is very emaciated. You can see all of his bone structure -- his spine, his ribs," said Laurie Waggoner, of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
Moon's Treasure was in prime condition when it raced at Calder Race Course last summer, but now it is emaciated and has a bad infection in its leg.
"Unfortunately, it only takes a horse 30 to 45 days to get in this condition," Waggoner said.
Miami-Dade County Animal Services is taking care of the dog that was found, naming her Lola.
"She has open draining abscesses in both of her front feet. She has pus draining out. She actually had maggots in her feet yesterday," Waggoner said.
Farm rescuers also realized one of the neglected mares is pregnant and could give birth to a foal within a week.
When asked whether the mare will be able to survive the stress of foaling, Waggoner said, "We won't know that until she actually goes to deliver."
With 73 horses on the SPCA's farm, horse rescue has become an expensive undertaking. Some have been there for more than a year, and with a tough economy and higher feed bills, the job of finding a horse a home is not easy.
"It's definitely getting a lot harder to find homes for them, and they are staying longer and longer periods of time," Waggoner said.
A thoroughbred racing rescue organization called Florida Trac has agreed to rehabilitate the animal and find it a home.
For more information on adopting an SPCA rescued horse or donating to the organization, visit spca-sofla.org, or send donations to SFSPCA 15476 NW 77th Court #440 Miami Lakes, FL 33016.