ST. MARTINVILLE, La. (AP) - So many horses are being set loose in St. Martin Parish that the parish is setting up a shelter for horses and other rescued livestock.

Rescued horses are currently boarded on private land around the parish, and the shelter under way will save money, Parish President Guy Cormier said Tuesday.

He said the parish is fencing land behind the parish Animal Control Services building and plans to fix a barn already there to keep rescued livestock.

Eight horses were in parish custody as of Aug. 23, and the number has been as high as 35, said parish animal services coordinator Monique Louvier.

Since October, she said, the parish government has taken about 65 horses into custody.