Marion County Animal Control Officer Robert Page cited Willie Fore, the former police chief of the town of Sellers, for abandonment and malnourishment of his horses. He says the citation is under a county ordinance.

On Wednesday, animal control got a complaint that one of Fore's two horses was dead at his home on Church Street in Sellers, Paige said.

When Page arrived at the home, the horse was indeed dead and another malnourished.

The Florence Area Humane Society seized the malnourished horse and is nursing it back to health.

Both of Fore's horses appeared to have been be in good health at one time, but in recent months, neighbors said, you could see the animals rib cages showing through their skin.

Fore did not return our phone calls.

His trial date has not been set.