SOUTHWEST MIAMI-DADE, FLA. (WSVN) - Authorities are investigating a cruel crime after finding remains of two slaughtered horses on the side of a Southwest Miami-Dade road.
Investigators said a person riding a horse down a dirt road along Southwest 192nd Avenue, near 136th Street, came across the most recent set of bones Monday and called police. That’s when the South Florida Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals responded to the scene. “We actually found the horse in pieces, butchered for its meat,” said SPCA spokesperson Dio Benitez.
Officials said the rotting carcass was most likely dumped there on Saturday. “All the meat was harvested from its bones,” Benitez said.
The SPCA is working with Miami-Dade Animal Services to determine where the horse came from and who may have slaughtered the animal. “It’s very difficult as a horse owner and animal lover to see,” said Benitez.
According to officials, this is the second horse carcass that was found in a matter of two days. “It’s a problem because it was probably someone’s pet that was stolen and butchered for her meat,” said the SPCA’s Laurie Waggoner.
On Sunday, a few miles from Southwest 192nd Avenue, investigators came across more horse body parts. They said that the horses were definitely slaughtered for their meat, even though it is toxic from the medicines and vaccinations given to the horse throughout their life.
“It doesn’t matter to the people selling the meat that it’s toxic. All they care about is making a dollar,” Waggoner said. “They go in and they steal someone’s pet, doesn’t cost them a thing. They butcher it. They can butcher it in a matter of minutes, some of these people.”
Officials said harvesting horse meat is a common crime in the area and these case are an important reminder to all horse owners. “It’s happening in Miami, and there’s a lot of people that love their animals, and they have to keep their eyes open to make sure that it doesn’t happen to their pet,” Benitez said.
Owners of a horse farm located a few miles from where the bones were found are on alert after one of their horses went missing on Friday.
Employees at the farm said they called police to report the stolen horse but fear the worst. “Nobody wants this to happen to their pet,” Waggoner said. “Our pets are family members and we love them, and when this happens to somebody’s pet, it’s devastating for all involved.”
According to police, these crimes are hard to investigate because the area is remote and there were no witnesses to the crime.
Those who live in Southwest Miami-Dade said they are taking precautions to protect their horses.
If you have any information on these crimes, call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-TIPS. Remember, you can always remain anonymous, and you may be eligible for a $1,000 reward.
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