A Santa Rosa County, Florida, Sheriff’s Office deputy is facing a felony animal cruelty charge for allegedly maltreating his horse.

Santa Rosa County Director of Animal Services Dale Hamilton said sheriff’s deputies responded to a call about an allegedly maltreated horse at a property in Milton, Florida, in March. Upon arrival they discovered an allegedly injured and malnourished horse belonging to John Rutherford, a detention deputy at the Santa Rose Sheriff’s Office jail.

“The horse was extremely malnourished and had an injury near its eye that appeared to be infected and to have been there for a while,” Hamilton said. “The horse was down when we got there and was euthanized at the scene due to its condition.”

Rutherford surrendered a Miniature Horse and three Miniature Donkeys also found on the property, which have been placed in foster homes, Hamilton said