Owners Can Remove Horses From Facility At Center Of Alleged Abuse

Horses currently housed at a South Jersey animal sanctuary in which the owner is being charged with abuse can be released, the Camden County Prosecutor’s Office announced.

A New Jersey Superior Court Judge signed an order allowing for the release of horses presently located at the Labrador Hill Equine Sanctuary in Waterford Township on Tuesday, July 17, according to the prosecutor’s office.

Superior Court Judge John T. Kelley signed the order with the consent of 62-year-old Sarah Rabinowitz, of Waterford Township, who is charged with 57 counts of fourth-degree causing bodily injury to a living animal or creature by failing to provide the animals at the sanctuary with the necessary care, according to the prosecutor’s office.

The order allows anyone who can show proof of ownership of any horse at the sanctuary access to the facility in order to have a licensed veterinarian perform a Coggins Test on their horse. A Coggins Test is required before any livestock can be moved within or outside the State of New Jersey.

Once an owner has established ownership and provided proof of a negative Coggins Test, the order allows for the removal of the horse, according to the prosecutor’s office.

The facility houses about 70 animals, including horses and donkeys, among others, according to the prosecutor’s office.

In addition to the 57 counts of causing bodily injury, Rabinowitz is charged with five counts of animal cruelty, by failing as the owner or as a person otherwise charged with the care of a living animal or creature, to provide the living animal or creature with necessary care, a disorderly persons offense.

Rabinowitz was arrested following the execution of a search warrant at her facility on Friday, July 13, authorities said. She must also take immediate remedial measures to ensure the animals at her facility receive sufficient amounts of water and adequate sheltering, per a court mandate.

The search warrant was ordered after members of the Camden County Prosecutor's Office met with the Waterford Township Police Department, agents from the NJSPCA and a veterinarian from the New Jersey Department of Agriculture concerning an ongoing NJSPCA investigation into the conditions at the sanctuary, authorities said.

Anyone who would like to have their horse removed from the sanctuary s is asked to contact Investigator Timothy Lyons of the Waterford Township Police Department by e-mail at timothy.lyons@wtpd.org. The email must include a description of the horse with name and photos if available, the name of the veterinarian who will be performing the Coggins Test, proof of ownership of the horse and contact information include name, address and phone number.

Any questions on the removal process can be directed to Investigator Timothy Lyons at 856-767-2134, ext. 245.

Following her arrest, Rabinowitz was released with the mandated court order and is pending a future court date. Law enforcement, the Department of Agriculture, and the NJSPCA will be monitoring the situation daily, and the investigation is ongoing.

See related: Animal Sanctuary Owner Charged With Animal Cruelty: Police

The attached image is a Patch file photo, and is not an image of a horse at the sanctuary, or of the sanctuary itself.