Officials are investigating a case of extreme animal cruelty after the remains of a butchered horse were found in a Hialeah field early Thursday morning, according to a report from the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
The mutilated body of the three-year-old Quarter Horse filly was discovered in a pasture at 9175 Northwest 138th Street, a location that at one time housed operations for the SPCA.
According to the SPCA, someone accessed the property, walked the horse out to pasture and butchered her while she was still alive.
The owner of the horse found her when she went out to feed her. Others who keep their horses stabled are now worried about them, too.
"Where I was before, horses were slaughtered within a mile of where we were. Here, nothing's happened and now this," said horse owner, Virginia Howard.
The horse owner said the horse was stabbed in the heart and flesh from her legs and upper chest were carved out. They believe it was all for the sale of illegal horse meat.
Miami-Dade Police investigators are now working this case, as well as local animal advocates.
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"It takes a private organization like ARM, that are trained investigators, to deal with animal cruelty issues," said ARM Investigator Richard Couto.
There have been several reported cases of horses killed in stables and farms in Miami-Dade County in the last few years.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the SPCA at (786) 281-4828 or Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at (305) 471-TIPS.
