11 Starving Horses Donated to Shelter : Ojai: The owner of the animals will suffer no penalties after agreeing to sign them over, along with seven of 11 cats.

The owner of 11 starving horses found in the Lockwood Valley last month has agreed to donate them to the Humane Society shelter in Ojai, where they have been living since January, shelter Director Jolene Hoffman said.

Ventura County Dist. Atty. Michael D. Bradbury and representatives from the Humane Society met with the horses’ owner, 75-year-old Connie Warner, on Thursday and she agreed to donate the animals to the Ojai shelter, Hoffman said.

Bradbury’s office referred requests for information about the case to Hoffman.

Warner has agreed to sign over 11 of the 14 horses and seven of the 11 cats found on her property during a Jan. 5 inspection, Hoffman said. Two horses died after being rescued. One horse and four cats will be returned to family members.

Three dogs that were also taken in the inspection will be returned to Warner because they were found in good condition, Hoffman said.

“Because she signed over the animals, nothing will happen to her,” Hoffman said. “If she would not have, we would have turned the paperwork over to the D.A.”

Warner refused to comment Saturday.

The horses are being fed three times daily to increase their weight, Hoffman said. She estimated that the first month of care cost more than $6,881, and the shelter will continue to house the horses for an additional six to nine months.

The Humane Society, a nonprofit organization funded by donations, has received $2,500 earmarked for the horses but needs more, Hoffman said. It also needs horse supplies, such as brushes, fly spray and hay.

“Once the food runs out and donations stop we’re going to be in trouble,” Hoffman said.

Donations should be sent to the Humane Society at 402 Bryant St., Ojai, 93023.