To update on the neighbor situation, I have decided to do nothing beyond what I have already done. I have taken the remaining stock under control to care for them until her husband's return or until such time as they decide to sell or butcher them, to make sure they are cared for safely. The husband is a friend of mine of sorts, and this was not his fault. I don't want repercussions to come to his family once danger to the surviving animals has passed. I did check once again, and there was shelter, feed and water for the cattle but someone had blocked it off for some reason. I'm thinking the young teen daughter maybe just made a mistake. The horses did have a little water, and a round bale of hay. It obviously wasn't enough to save them, however. I left her dogs in their pen, but will skip over to check on them on occasion. They did have plenty of water, shelter, and food.
I have been thinking a lot about how such a thing can happen, and still don't really understand. But every day I put gallons and gallons of water in waterers for my birds around the pasture where they free range. Every evenings all of the waterers are bone dry, or close to it. Some mornings I don't really feel like getting up and doing it, especially on a work day, but know it would only take a day to wipe out large numbers from the heat. Even a small mistake can cost you dearly when the temps are close to 110.
I might be wrong for doing it this way, but it feels right to me. Her possibly going to jail isn't going to bring back those animals, and the others are safe now, so no more damage can be done.
