The owner of several horses on the Havasupai Indian Reservation has been accused of animal cruelty and neglect. Horses and mules are used as pack animals for tourism in the area, in a deep gorge off the Grand Canyon.
The charges were filed against Leland Joe after an FBI special agent visited his property earlier this month. The agent reported there was no visible food or vegetation for five horses, and one horse appeared extremely thin, and had open sores and wounds. Joe has been charged in federal court in Flagstaff on four felony counts.
The animal cruelty charges come days after an animal-rights group called Stop Animal Violence encouraged tourists to avoid using the animals to carry their camping gear and food on the 8-mile trail that leads in and out of the tribal village of Supai until veterinary standards are met.
Associated Press contributed to this report.
