HARARE, Zimbabwe (AP) — An independent animal welfare group said Wednesday it is filing cruelty charges against the veterinary teaching department at Zimbabwe’s main university after three emaciated, ailing and distressed horses were killed using an ax and a knife.

The Veterinarians for Animal Welfare organization said the heavily indebted University of Zimbabwe lacked expertise, equipment and drugs to put down the animals humanely. The horses were taken to a zoo outside Harare last month where their carcasses were fed to lions.