Following a case of animal neglect, Saratoga County District Attorney James Murphy is looking for potential homes for neglected horses. YNN's C.J. Spang has details.

GREENFIELD, N.Y. -- "It's a pretty bad horse case," said Cathy Cloutier, Executive Director of the SPCA of Upstate New York. "I mean we have seen a lot of cases and you hate to grade one over the other because every one you go to the charges filed are bad. This falls in that same category. They're bad."

Ann Arnold of Greenfield was convicted of 20 misdemeanors stemming from improper care of her horses. The judge has yet to sentence Arnold, but Saratoga County District Attorney James Murphy is asking that she no longer be able to own horses.

"They were skin and bones," Murphy said. "Some of them were diseased. They were in very bad shape, near death in some instances."

Because he's asking for that sentence, Murphy says its the responsibility of his office to help find homes for the horses.

"We just can't say to her, 'Get rid of the horses by X date,'" he said. "I think it's incumbent on us to help her, if that's what the judge ultimately decides, to provide a place for these horses."

The SPCA of Upstate New York is currently monitoring the health of the horses still on the property and is helping with potential adoptions.

"They have to be horse-minded people and know what they're getting into," Cloutier said. "Horses are not cheap."

Those involved with the case say this is an example of how difficult it can be to deal with the consequences of animal abuse cases.

"It's very difficult because the courts aren't set up to have stables in their backyard," Cloutier said. "The police departments don't have vehicles to transport large animals. Even your cat and dog cases or whatever we go on - any act or omission - because what's going to happen to them?"

Murphy says his office has been reaching out to animal rescue groups across the country and he's hopeful they'll be able to find suitable homes for the horses.

Anyone interested in adopting a horse should contact the DA through his website, jimmurphyda.com.