A man will soon face court charged with more than 90 animal cruelty and criminal damage offences after more than 40 horses were found dead or malnourished at a Melbourne property.
Police have charged the 63-year-old Bulla man with 92 counts of animal cruelty and criminal damage offences say he is expected to face Broadmeadows Magistrates Court later on Monday.
The dead horses were found at a Batey Court property, 33km north of Melbourne, about 3.30pm on Sunday after complaints about a foul smell.
Twenty-two horses, believed to be thoroughbreds or former race horses, were found dead and another needed to be euthanised by a vet.
Police are trying to find a new home for another 22 horses suffering malnutrition.
RSPCA Victoria says it had a report on March 22 about a horse on the property without sufficient feed.
"We regret that this report didn't accurately describe the situation that was uncovered yesterday and that observations from outside the property did not reveal the true extent of what lay within," it said in a statement.
The owner of the property was known to the RSPCA and the property was one which was not to be attended without police for safety reasons, the RSPCA said.
They contacted police on Sunday when they received a call from a member of the public with more detailed information about the condition of the horses.
