SALEM TOWNSHIP — The skeletal remains of four horses were discovered at Pure Gold Horse Stables & Equestrian Center Sunday.

A Columbiana County Sheriff’s Office deputy was dispatched at 5:27 p.m. Sunday to Pure Gold, 3325 state Route 45, Salem regarding animal abuse. When he arrived, he was told that four horse skeletons were observed in a barn.

The four horses were believed to have been locked in the barn and starved to death, according to the report. Seven other horses on the property were reported in poor health. The report was sent to the Columbiana County Humane Society and the county prosecutor’s office for further investigation. A deputy also assisted a humane agent at the property on Monday, with the matter currently under investigation.

Columbiana County Humane Society President Sarah Underwood said that the humane society was continuing to collaborate with the sheriff’s office to investigate the situation and that no further information was available when reached for comment Tuesday evening.

“We can’t give any information regarding that at this time because it is an ongoing investigation,” said Underwood.

The Columbiana County Prosecutor’s Office published a statement to its Facebook page Wednesday afternoon stating that it was aware of the incident and directing anyone with information regarding the matter to contact the humane society or the Sheriff’s Office’s Detective Bureau.

The post read as follows:

“Our office has been made aware of the incident concerning the Pure Gold Equine Facility and allegations of abused/neglected animals.

“We have offered our services and resources to the Columbiana County Humane Society and the Columbiana County Sheriff’s Office.

“At this point the status is ‘under investigation.’

“If you have information regarding the matter, you can reach out to the humane society and/or the Sheriff’s office detective bureau, as they are the lead investigative agencies at this point in time.

“My staff and I are very aware of the heinous nature of these alleged crimes — we take them very seriously – and my administration’s past results in animal cases reflect that.

— Prosecutor Abruzzino and Staff