A Carbon County veterinarian has been charged with 11 counts of animal cruelty after more than 16 horses, 20 sheep and a dog were taken from his property in the last two weeks.

Clyde R. Shoop, whose address is listed in Jim Thorpe, and has property at 20 Sunny Rest Drive in Lower Towamensing Township, was charged today by state police.

Kimberly Shoop, who lives at the property in Lower Towamensing where the horses were taken, was also charged with 11 counts of animal cruelty.

According to Shoop's Facebook page, he owns Poco West Mobile Equine Services, based in Jim Thorpe.

Three of the horses died. The rest were taken to Last Chance Ranch, an animal rescue, in Quakertown.

Diane Sharpless, the coordinator for the Carbon Animal Response Team, said the situation was horrific.

"The entire situation was tough on our team members. There were counselors there to help them through it," she said.

CART members have since gone to visit the horses, Sharpless said.

"There were a lot of animals on the property. We took horses to the Quakertown veterinary clinic. Carbon County Friends of Animals also assisted."

Getting some of the horses onto the transport was difficult, she said.

"The horses were not used to being handled," Sharpless said.

One horse died and two had to be euthanized. One was a stallion, the other was the pregnant mare, the third was a male horse that couldn't stand, despite volunteers' best efforts.

The others are expected to make a full recovery.

Efforts to speak with someone there were unsuccessful.