UNION COUNTY, Fla. -- Two people have been arrested and charged with 28 counts of animal abuse and cruelty, according to the Union County Sheriff's Office.

Deputies said the arrests stem from a month-long investigation by the Union County Sheriff's Office and the Department of Agriculture Law Enforcement after allegations were received concerning severe animal cruelty.

Jeannette Brown, 52, and Tina Vetterlein, 38, each of Lake Butler, were arrested Monday.

Deputies said the investigation began after they were called to the farm on Sept. 7 alleging that one of the horses had been shot. They said their investigation revealed that the horse had been dead for possibly days.

Deputies said another horse carcass was also found, leading them to conduct a thorough inspection of the property.

The next day, deputies said they met with Department of Agriculture investigators and learned that numerous animals were in severe danger from malnutrition and lack of any water.

Department of Agriculture investigators and sheriff's deputies said they seized the remaining animals and delivered them to a Gainesville veterinarian for immediate medical treatment. Ten horses, a donkey, a goat, a bull and two dogs were seized.

Union County Sheriff Jerry Whitehead said the autopsy of at least one of the horses showed that it had around 30 pounds of sand in its stomach. He said that the lack of water or food for so long caused that to happen.

Whitehead said the surviving animals will probably be put up for adoption.