Updated: 2 horses dead, 18 seized at boarding facility in Salem Township

Three horse owners may be prosecuted, the Humane Society said in an article posted on its website this morning.

Matt Schaecher, director of animal cruelty at the Humane Society said investigators have seized 18 horses at the facility since Thursday night. Nine were initially taken away Thursday night, he said, but investigators then discovered other severely neglected animals and seized nine more in the early morning hours Friday.

The Double Diamond boarding facility on Seven Mile Road near Currie Road has more than 60 horses on the property, and nearly 20 have been neglected, the Humane Society said in an article posted on its website. Many of the horses are seriously underfed and in desperate need of veterinary care.

"This is a terrible sight to see,” Schaecher said. “Starving to death in the cold is a horrible way for these noble creatures to die. This will be a costly case and challenging in terms of ongoing care of the animals. Michigan's economy has been very difficult on horses because they are so expensive to care for, and even if you wanted to sell or give away your horse, nobody's taking them right now because of the costs involved.”

The facility merely provides space for owners to rent, Schaecher said Thursday. It is the responsibility of owners to care for their animals.

The investigation began Tuesday after the Humane Society received calls from people concerned about the animals, Schaecher said Thursday.

Watch a WXYZ video about the investigation below.