STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- The cowboy has been collared.

The NYPD has filed animal cruelty charges against Tod (Doc) Mishler, the 80-year-old Western-dressed wandered who sparked a firestorm when he rode into Staten Island over the Outerbridge Crossing on horseback earlier this week.

Mishler, a resident of Ulster, N.Y., faces misdemeanor charges of torturing, injuring and not feeding animals, an NYPD spokesman said Thursday afternoon.

Veterinarians with the ASPCA examined his two horses after officials from the NYPD and District Attorney Michael E. McMahon's office concerned about the animals' wellbeing approached the rider at the West Shore Motel in Charleston on Tuesday and he agreed to sign a consent for examination.

He had been staying at the motel since his ride on the bridge.

The examination determined the horses were dehydrated, had not regularly been to see a veterinarian and had bleeding sores caused by the saddle, the police spokeswoman said.

One of the horses had lameness in its rear leg due to an untreated infection, police allege.

Mishler, who went to the Ocean Breeze Indoor Horse Riding Arena Thursday morning with hopes of getting the horses back was taken into police custody at the site and brought to the 120 Precinct stationhouse in St. George.

The Parks Department had been holding the horses at its stables in Ocean Breeze.

Arraignment was not expected until Friday.

Mishler had already been hit with two criminal court summonses for the ride across the Outerbridge, which brought traffic to a crawl.

The Ulster, N.Y., resident says he rides across the country on horseback to raise awareness of child hunger in the United States.

During his stay on Staten Island, he's donned a cowboy hat, brown vest, boots and a red kerchief. He has an affinity for singing Western ballads and sharing messages about his faith.

He's garnered supporters and publicity for his endeavors, being featured in newspapers across the country as he trots from city to city.

But he's also had his critics as well.

In 2011, he was arrested in Madison, Wis., amid allegations his horses appeared dehydrated and underfed, according to a report by the Wisconsin State Journal. Those charges were dropped days later and he was reunited with his horses, the publication reported.

On Sunday night, a Facebook group called "Stop Doc Mishler" was created by animal advocates concerned about the horses' wellbeing.