Dead, mutilated horse on street was a message, Calif. police say
SYLMAR, California-- A dead horse was dumped in front of a Sylmar home Saturday.
CBS Los Angeles reports the scene was so horrific police parked a car in front of it so children couldn't see it.
The dead horse was tied by the tail to a telephone pole lying in a pool of blood.
Now police are trying to determine who put the horse there and why.
"It just appears from marks on the body of the horse and on the head of the horse, that the horse was either beat, or shot or both," LAPD Detective Eric Bixler said.
That's why the Animal Cruelty Task Force is now investigating.
Neighbors on Kagel Canyon told CBS Los Angeles the horse lived in stables until last night when they saw her being loaded onto a truck to be transported.
On Sunday morning, they were shocked to see the mare lying on their street.
Police said it's possible the horse was already dead when she was brought here, her tail tied to a post to pull the massive animal out of a trailer. Regardless, they believe the carcass may have been left here as a message.
"We found some evidence at the scene and we believe that there will be an arrest sometime in the future," they said.
An arrest depends on a necropsy being done this weekend.
On the street lined with horse lovers, neighbors are shaking their heads. One told Fajardo, "Animals are innocent. They can't even speak to tell you they are hungry, let alone do anything to deserve this."