7/16/03 Wild horses on a ranch in Buellton are sick and dying, angry neighbors say, but Santa Barbara County Animal Services officials claim they have the situation under control.

Approximately 600 horses were brought from Nevada to a ranch in Buellton beginning last year. Since then, the wild mustangs have deteriorated, say neighbors, who estimate that between 30 and 40 horses have died over the past few months.

Animal Services officials 77 who began monitoring the horses/ feeding, watering and veterinary care in April after receiving complaints 77 estimate that between 20 and 30 horses have died.

However, about 93 percent of the remaining horses are now in acceptable condition, according to Michele Mickiewicz, deputy director of the Public Health Department.

There is still concern for fewer than 40 of the horses, said Jan Glick, director of Animal Services.

Those horses, many of them pregnant or nursing, have been separated into smaller groups for feeding and care.

Because the district attorney is investigating whether criminal charges will be filed, more details could not be released, according to Mickiewicz and Glick.

However, neighbors were angered by the report and, at Tuesday/s Board of Supervisors meeting, characterized the claim that the horses/ condition had improved as "untrue."

A full report on the situation will be heard at the supervisors/ next meeting on July 22.

"Thirteen weeks under animal control and we still have horses that are dying," said neighbor Myrt Starr. "Please. We need to take control of these horses and let other people have them who know how to take care of them."

Others attacked what they considered the department/s lack of responsiveness, called for the Sheriff/s Department to get involved and said that they don/t believe the horses are getting enough to eat.

Glick said that the feeding is done with the advice of a veterinarian.

She added that sheriff involvement is not necessary because the department has enforcement authority and the owner is cooperating with the department/s recommendations.

Staff writer Erin Carlyle can be reached by e-mail at ecarlyle@pulitzer.net