Seven horses reportedly being shipped to Manitoba were seized in Edmonton Nov. 8 after city police found their trailer left by the roadside, allegedly for days.

A 74-year-old man faces charges of causing or permitting an animal to be in distress, punishable by a maximum fine of $20,000, the Edmonton Police Service said in a release.

Police said they responded to a report of an abandoned trailer near 124th St. and Yellowhead Trail and opened the unit to find seven horses “standing in feces and urine.”

“It appears that the horses were in the trailer for at least two days, possibly three, without water, and very limited food,” Staff Sgt. Blair Edl said in the release.

“The responding members felt the animals were in distress, and felt they needed to help out, as they were very upset by the situation.”

CTV quoted investigators as saying they were told by the man facing charges that he is not the owner of the horses. He was hired, he said, to haul the animals to Manitoba and his truck failed. The man told police he left the trailer in an attempt to get the truck fixed, CTV said.