Officials found the animals in good shape, however, the horses were chest-deep in snow and were out of hay, said Butch Knowlton, director of La Plata County's Office of Emergency Preparedness.

There were about 40 quarter horses and 20 miniature horses on the ranch. There were also about 60 cats in a barn, and several llamas and dogs.

The animals are located at C. Gordon Shillingburg's Granite Peaks Ranch. They are owned by Leslie Greco of Vallecito. Greco breeds cats, but it was unclear if she had a license to do so.

During the last week or so, authorities received reports that the animals were not being cared for, and they urged Greco to do more to ensure the animals' safety, Knowlton said.

When the latest winter storm hit, Greco became stuck at the ranch and was unable to leave to replenish hay, she said in a brief interview Tuesday outside the ranch. Rescue workers arrived at her ranch at 4:30 p.m. Monday to check on her and her animals.

"They were very, very excellent," she said. "I was glad to see them, believe you me."

She said this is the first year she has wintered at the ranch with the animals. She was making plans to move the horses to the Bayfield area until they could be moved to Oklahoma, where she normally winters her animals.

"It's going to take awhile," she said.

Animal Control officials plan to monitor the situation on a daily basis, Knowlton said.

"It's very important that we get those animals to a lower elevation," he said. "I don't think they're going to accomplish it (today)."

Animal Control Officer Jon Holt said officials will work with Greco to ensure proper care for the animals.

"It's definitely a situation we're monitoring," he said. "I can't really speak to why she didn't have enough hay."

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