Mukwonago farm alleged animal abuse update
We’re learning more about alleged animal abuse on a horse farm in Mukwonago. Police are sharing new details about their investigation as FOX6 spoke with another former employee about what she saw on the farm.
MUKWONAGO, Wis. – Allegations of animal abuse continue to surface at a horse farm in Mukwonago, prompting a police investigation and raising questions about animal welfare oversight.
Police are sharing new details as a second former employee comes forward with disturbing accounts of conditions on the farm. The Town of Mukwonago police executed a search warrant on the property in November 2025, leading to 28 charges referred to the Waukesha County District Attorney’s Office. Eleven felony charges were filed related to firearms found on the property of 69-year-old Ralinda Howard, a convicted felon.
Note: Some of the details in this story are graphic
The Weight of Testimony
The latest allegations paint a grim picture. A former employee, whose identity FOX6 is protecting due to fear of retaliation, described witnessing severe injuries among the horses. “We had horses with huge gashes and impalement on torsos, abdomens and legs,” she stated. She also recounted an incident where “one of the horses actually gutted itself on the fencing.”
This employee, who worked at the farm twice – once in 2023 and briefly last fall – says she and others reported concerns to police years ago regarding the health and treatment of both horses and dogs on the property.
Beyond Individual Cases: A Pattern of Concerns
The current investigation isn’t isolated. Town records dating back to 2012 reveal neighbors had previously raised concerns about “possible mistreatment” and the sheer number of animals housed on the property. Since October, the town has issued 40 citations for overcrowding violations.
The allegations extend to the disposal of deceased animals, with claims that dead horses were buried under manure piles and dead puppies were discarded in the trash. The former employee also alleges a reluctance to seek veterinary care until animals were near death, stating, “She doesn’t bring vets to the property. she waits until the horses are remarkably, very ill and going to die.”
Farm in the Town of Mukwonago
Legal Ramifications and Owner’s Response
While gun charges have been filed against farm owner Ralinda Howard, the status of animal-related charges remains with municipal citations. FOX6 reached out to the District Attorney’s office for an update on charging decisions but has not yet received a response.
Howard, in an email to FOX6, maintains there are “no grounds for any animal abuse charges” and asserts that all her animals are “healthy and happy.”
