Animal Control Talks of Horrible Conditions at Farm

CONQUEST -- Diane Matthews and her husband, David, run Conquest Animal Control and they were shocked when they saw how badly ten horses were being cared for treated at a farm owned by Lester and Mary Wing, who live on Egypt Road in Conquest.

Diane Matthews said one mare had hooves that were so overgrown a vet ordered she be put down immediately.

                    This photo shows how overgrown were the back hooves of one horse 

She says the other nine horses are doing OK; they were taken to other farms in Cayuga County, and to Cracker Box Palace in Wayne County, in the town of Alton, an organization which specializes in helping neglected horses.                                              

                Many of the horses lived in a trench walled in by their own manure      

Arrested on animal cruelty charges were the 66-year-old Lester Wing and his wife, 53-year-old Mary Wing. Also, the couple's six-month-old grandson was taken away by Cayuga County child protective services, after it was determined conditions inside the home were dangerous to the infant's health; charged with endangering the welfare of a child were 30-year-old Rhode Wing and 31-year-old David Weeks.