Updated story:

The owner of a horse rescue in Mims was arrested Wednesday after deputies said she failed to provide veterinary attention or adequate nutrition for three of the animals, leaving them weak and emaciated.

Clairese Austin, 63, of the 120 block of Park Avenue, Titusville, was charged with three felony counts of animal cruelty causing death, pain and suffering. She was being held Thursday at the Brevard County Jail in lieu of $6,000 bail.

Investigators with the animal services unit of the Brevard County Sheriff's Office responded Wednesday to the HorseSisters Equine Assisted Therapy and Rescue in Mims, following a tip from a concerned citizen.

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They found three horses at the ranch were "extremely emaciated, with one being unable to stand," sheriff's officials said in a news release.

One of the horses was euthanized at the scene. The others were taken to the Brevard County Animal Care Center for examination, where a veterinarian determined the animals were suffering from extreme starvation due to neglect.

The veterinarian told deputies it was the worst case of starvation she had ever seen, officials said.

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Austin admitted not being able to afford proper care for the animals, officials said.

"There is absolutely no reason that these horses should have been allowed to suffer ... In our community, there are any number of resources and citizens who would have gladly assisted with these horses," Sheriff Wayne Ivey said in a prepared statement. "As I have said before, 'If you harm an animal you need to go straight to jail!' "

"Our team is working around the clock, providing love and care in hopes we can save the two remaining horses," he added.

Thursday afternoon, Ivey told reporters a fourth horse was removed from the property. Investigators are determining whether additional charges will be filed.

Lead investigator Chris Sauro said a volunteer at the horse rescue that lived at the property may also face charges.

There were nine other horses still at the ranch, Sauro said. The agency is restricted in what animals it can legally seize, Ivey said, but deputies are regularly checking on them.

Austin did not seem to recognize there was anything wrong with the animals when she spoke to deputies, Sauro said.

"It was her opinion ... they were fine," he said. "They were 'bright-eyed,' as she put it, and were not in any type of pain or anything to that effect."

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"We know that's not the case, by our (veterinarian)," Sauro said. "Those animals were in pain."

Austin has a long history of complaints against her, Ivey said. Court records show she was cited 45 times since 2012 for animals at large or not properly secured, drawing a total of $11,790 in fines.

This is her first arrest for cruelty or neglect, records show.

Sauro said previous investigators to visit the property did not appear to notice any mistreatment of the animals. Records show investigators visited the property as recently as October.

Rogers is a breaking news reporter for FLORIDA TODAY and TCPalm.

Contact Rogers at 772-978-2224

or eric.rogers@tcpalm.com.

Twitter: @EricRogersFT

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