Another horse found slaughtered in Miami-Dade

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (WSVN) -- It's a crime all too familiar to South Florida investigators: the slaughter of someone's pet horse for its meat.

On Wednesday morning, a horse was found at a ranch in Miami Gardens with its throat slashed, its two front legs cut off and part of its side skinned. Authorities believe the culprit may have entered the ranch through the back of the stable, through a gaping hole in a fence.

Caretakers at the ranch off Northwest 54th Avenue and 159th Street tried to hold it together after the gruesome discovery. "Hurting from the inside out because I love horses," said ranch manager Amos Gablin, "and when I see something like this, it brings tears to my eyes, and it hurts me from the heart."

The horse's owner arrived on the scene and said it was like losing a dear friend.

So far this year, 20 horses have been slaughtered in Miami-Dade and Broward Counties, leaving the animal-loving community up in arms. Authorities believe the horses are being harvested for their meat. "There's a black market for horse meat in this community," explained Jeanette Jordan of the South Florida Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

She said some people are interested in horse flesh for its supposed medicinal qualities, which she easily debunks. "Some people mistakenly believe that horse meat cures AIDS, cures blood disease, cures cancer. It does not. It is toxic. This meat is not made for human consumption. People can make themselves sick."

Animal lovers are simply left hurting from this latest case. "Makes me think what that animal went through," said Lourdes Perez, a caretaker at the ranch. "It kills me. It's like anything that would have happened to anyone in my family. It hurts."

Police are now investigating who is behind this crime. On the black market, the horse meat sells for $7 to $20 per pound.

If you have any information on this latest horse killing, call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-TIPS. Remember, you can always remain anonymous, and you may be eligible for a reward.

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