Animal Control euthanizes neglected miniature horse

County Animal Control has euthanized a grossly neglected miniature horse owned by Prince George's County's chief public health officer, who said yesterday that the agency maltreated his pet.

Animal Control put down the 3-foot-high stallion on Tuesday, 19 days after seizing it, a mare and six dogs from an unkempt Harwood barn. The two miniature horses were suffering from "elf shoes," meaning their hooves had curled up and disfigured, and one of the dogs had skin infection.

Animal Control Administrator Tahira Shane Thomas declined to comment yesterday, but an agency spokesman, county police Lt. Jonathon Church said the horse's...