Therapy horse mutilated Butler, GA (US)Incident Date: Monday, Oct 4, 2010 County: Taylor
Disposition: Open Case Images: 2 files available
Suspect(s) Unknown - We need your help!
The Humane Society of the U.S. and an anonymous donor are offering $7,500 for information on what they call a brutal attack on a former therapy horse for handicapped children.
The 13-year-old quarter horse, named Molly, was attacked at the end of September in her pasture in Butler, according to the Taylor County Sheriff's Office.
The Sheriff's Office says the horse was found in her pasture suffering from severe lacerations to her head, ear and neck on October 4.
It appeared as if someone had attempted to sever Molly's muscles and peel back her skin, they say.
According to Molly's owner at the time of the attack, Bobby Bazemore, Molly and her pasture mate, Cisco, had only recently returned to their pasture, having spent several months on loan to a local riding camp.
He says he was on vacation when the person taking care of his farm contacted him with the news that Molly had been injured.
"It was ghastly, it was horrific," says Bazemore.
He estimates about five days had gone by before anyone realized the extent of the horse's injuries.
Dr. Charlene Cook of Central Georgia Equine Services is one of the vets who treated Molly. She says by the time they found her, the wound was black, and Molly's ear was nearly cut off.
Bazemore says he has no idea why anyone would want to hurt Molly, but he says it looks like someone tried to butcher her.
"I don't know what the motive was, whether it was to butcher her, but it looks like someone almost started to skin her," says Bazemore.
According to a news release from the Humane Society, Cook says, "In my 25 years as a veterinarian, I have never seen an injury like this one. It would have taken a tremendous amount of force and a very sharp instrument to sever those muscles. I would like to know exactly what happened."
Bazemore says Molly is recuperating at a Taylor County rescue farm and she's doing well.
He says he hopes the sizable reward being offered by the humane society and an anonymous donor will help solve the mystery of what happened.
The humane society is urging other people who own horses to take extra precautions to ensure their horses are safe.
Anyone with information about the case can call the sheriff's office at 478-862-5444. If you have information on this case, please contact: Sheriff's office 478-862-5444
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