The lottery winner accused of animal cruelty for allegedly leaving nearly a dozen horses on his property without food apologized to several of his neighbors Thursday.
Jose Romo, 47, was arrested Wednesday at his home several miles northeast of Sanger on suspicion of animal cruelty.
On Thursday, animal control officers seized 3 horses from his property. 8 were seized a day earlier. Many of them were so badly malnourished that their ribs were sticking out, investigators said.
Romo, who's known to his neighbors as Francisco, returned to his property Thursday as animal control officers loaded up the three remaining horses from his property. He told CBS47 that he wanted to apologize to his neighbors.
"I got my problems and I didn't take care of my horses the right way. And I'm not put in no prison, no," said Romo.
Romo told CBS47 that he asked or paid someone to come out and give the horses food and water 2-3 times per week. But some were in such bad shape that a neighbor decided last Friday to call the Central California SPCA for help, neighbors said.
"He came and apologized, but that doesn't really do much for the horses, does it?" said neighbor Becky Dyer Contreras.
Back in 2001, records show Romo and his wife won a $40 million state lottery jackpot.
Employees with the CCSPCA say even though Romo surrendered custody of all 11 horses to the non-profit organization, he could still be held financially responsible for their care and medical treatment.
"If you can't care for your horses. If you're getting to the point of where you're having monetary issues, please find homes for them while they're healthy," said Beth Caffrey, Central California SPCA.
With the 11 horses seized on Wednesday and Thursday, the CCSPCA is now caring for 37 horses at its new horse arena and an area known as "Shed Row."
The CCSPCA is in desparate need of hay to feed the horses. They also need plastic fruit bins.
If you'd like to make a donation, you can drop them off at the CCSPCA Monday-Friday during normal business hours. The CCSPCA is located at 103 S. Hughes in Fresno.
For more information, click on the related link or call Beth Caffrey at (559) 289-0374.