Horse in Florida found slaughtered for its meat, owners offer $10,000 reward
(Jaime Doria)
GOLDEN GATE ESTATES, Fla. - A Florida family is mourning the loss of their beloved horse named Whip after finding him slaughtered in a field near their home.
Collier County deputies believe someone stole Whip and killed him for his meat. Whip was found dead in an empty lot next to the family's home around Rock Road and Immokalee Road on Friday morning.
"Someone entered the pasture sometime between midnight and 5 a.m. and led the horse to a neighboring pasture where they butchered the animal," the Sheriff's Office said. "Deputies said it appears the suspect or suspects were after the horse’s meat based upon the remains left at the scene."
RELATED: Horses reported slaughtered in Lake, Marion, Sumter counties
According to the Naples Daily News, whoever stole Whip tied him to a tree before killing him.
“It’s like losing a child,” Whip's owner Jamie Doria told Naples Daily News. “He was my baby.”
The family has three other horses, which were not harmed.
Whip was with the Doria family for 9 years. He was a performance horse who raced barrels with Jamie nearly every weekend.
RELATED: Florida horse stolen, slaughtered for meat, sheriff says
The Collier County Sheriff's Office is now warning horse owners to be cautious after several horses had been found slaughtered over the last couple of months:
- If you have security systems, check to see that they are operational and can record images
- Make sure pasture, paddock and barn areas are well fortified to keep animals safely inside and intruders out
- Network with your neighbors to watch each others property and know what might be suspicious activity in your area
- Make use of your dogs to alert you, especially at night, of any intruders
Anyone with information is asked to call the Collier County Sheriff’s Office at 239-252-9300 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-780-TIPS (8477).