A Phoenix police officer has reunited with a neglected horse he rescued back in April.
Officer Joe Trujillo says Apache was 150 pounds underweight and looked distressed when he arrived on scene.
"The owner would tie up the horse on abandoned lots and it would graze on weeds and sand," said Trujillo.
Rescue groups and the Department of Agriculture have attempted to help owner Michael Kight care for the horse nearly two dozen times over a two-year period.
Trujillo not only arrested the Kight, but went to court to get the horse and Kight's dog taken away.
Just last month, the officer won the civil case and handed custody of the horse to Arizona American Saddlebred Rescue, a non-profit that was worked to get the horse healthy again.
"I love animals and I consider myself their protector," said Officer Trujillo.
Apache still needs to get better, but will be up for adoption by the end of summer.
