Estimated read time: 3-4 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
SALT LAKE CITY -- Investigators are trying to figure out who would not just kill a horse, but then butcher it as well.
The reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction in the case now stands at $8,000. American Dog Rescue offered a $2,500 reward, a donor match brought it to $5,000, and now the Humane Society of Utah is offering $3,000.
Wednesday, Nov. 3, police were called to a field near 5600 West and California Avenue to investigate a horse killed and mutilated.
Owner Jennifer Carrillo says Snap, an 8-year-old American Saddle bred, appeared to have at least one gunshot wound, along with portions of its body cut off in a manner consistent with butchering for meat.
I can't believe how somebody could kill somebody's animal, and not only that, but treat them as meat and take parts of them away in order to consume.
–Jennifer Carrillo
"I can't believe how somebody could kill somebody's animal, and not only that, but treat them as meat and take parts of them away in order to consume," Carrillo said.
The loss of her horse was made more painful by the knowledge that a last-minute change of plans made the difference between life and death for Snap. Carrillo told KSL she was planning to remove him from the field where he was killed the day of the attack, but because of other engagements that kept her later than expected, she decided to wait until the next day.
"I know that there's no way that I could have known that that was the day somebody would decide to go in there and shoot him and butcher him," she said, adding, "That bothers me to think that I came that close to saving his life."
A news release from American Dog Rescue quoted a sergeant with Salt Lake County Animal Services as saying the horse likely suffered.
"It does not appear that the horse immediately went down," Sgt. Zach Todd said. "It is not acceptable to kill a horse in this manner, and we are dedicating the resources necessary to investigate this case."
Animal Dog Rescue founder Arthur Benjamin tells KSL the group is willing to sponsor a necropsy to determine Snap's cause of death. At the scene, the horse appeared to have at least one gunshot wound, and blood stains stretched around 100 square feet around his body.
"What we do believe is Snap was killed for his meat," said Scotlund Haisley with American Dog Rescue. "We believe it went into the black market. There is a huge black market for horse meat."
Haisley says it's a problem that is common in the United States, but not necessarily in Salt Lake County.
"I caution all horse owners right now to be very concerned and very careful with your horse until this person is captured," he said.
Carrillo agrees. "An animal that you love, that you've raised, that somebody else could look at it as target practice or as meat -- it's just horrifying," she said.
Friday afternoon Wheeler Machinery volunteered to donate the use of a backhoe to help bury Snap. Carrillo plans to bury the horse today.
Anyone with information about the case is asked to call the Unified Police Department or Salt Lake County Animal Services.
------
Story compiled with contributions from Becky Bruce, Randall Jeppesen and Anne Forester.
