By Cynthia Hubert
A Susanville man has been arrested and charged with 30 counts of animal cruelty for allegedly neglecting horses whose decomposing remains were discovered on his property.
Dwight Bennett, 57, who runs Whispering Pines Ranch west of Susanville, was booked into the Lassen County Jail on Wednesday, sheriff's officials said.
Sheriff's deputies, along with Lassen County Search and Rescue, searched the 54-acre ranch this week amidst allegations of severe animal cruelty and neglect by the nonprofit Grace Foundaiton of El Dorado Hills.
They found the decomposing remains of 28 horses and three dogs, they said Wednesday. They arrested Bennett and seized a small amount of methamphetamine, marijuana and five firearms from the property.
The Grace Foundation has been pressing for an investigation into Bennett's ranching operation since August, when it took custody of 36 horses housed at Whispering Pines.
Bennett maintained the horses had been victims of poisoning.
Grace has started a fund-raising campaign on behalf of the horses, said founder Beth DeCaprio. For more information about the case or to donate, go to www.thegracefoundation.com









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