Video: Man accused of letting herd of cattle starve

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BELLINGHAM, Wash. – A Whatcom County man faces seven counts of first-degree animal cruelty after police say he let a herd of cattle starve.

Investigators say they found more than 70 cattle horribly neglected and wasting away on a quiet ranch just west of Ferndale.

Amber Chenoweth with Pasado's Animal Rescue says the cattle were so malnourished their bodies were giving up. Some suffered pink eye, blindness, tumors and foot rot.

All told, seven cows died or had to be euthanized because they were so sick.

"It's just horrifying that someone would let any living creature suffer in this manner," she said.

Investigators say that someone is Allyn Deets. In court documents, prosecutors allege he knowingly let the cattle starve.

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Some of the cattle suffered pink eye, blindness, tumors and foot rot.

Chenoweth hopes for a conviction.

The surviving cattle have remained on the ranch where they're being nursed back to health by a court-ordered caretaker. Day by day, they're getting better.

"It's a very happy sign to see and we want them to stay this way," Chenoweth said.

Deets is scheduled to go on trial later this month.