Shetland pony attacked
A horse was brutally attacked in Rupert. Dragged behind a vehicle, and mutilated Saturday night. The Minidoka Sheriff’s Office is investigating the attack and searching for leads, but so far nothing has turned up.
Patches was definitely part of the Lopez family. He was put down Sunday morning after being seen by the local vet.
Hugo Lopez, Patches’ owner said, “He was a part of our family.”
Patches was known as the neighborhood pony. He spent his days grazing at the corner lot where children would stop to give him treats.
George King, of King Equestrian Center, said, “You know it’s interesting. People who own horses and that their part of your family understand that that’s really what they are.”
“I used him to teach my kid how to behave around horses,” Lopez said.
Saturday night, the worst happened for this little shetland pony.
“These horses, they depend on us,” King said. “They depend on us to feed them and water them and take care of them. It’s just absolutely terrible. I don’t know, it just amazes me that people even think about doing something like that.”
His lead rope was cut, and he was drug a mile and quarter. The attackers then cut off part of his groin.
The Lopez’s neighbor, who wishes to remain anonymous said, “He was absolutely mutilated, badly beaten, drug, and skin off of him. Open wounds on his knees and a puncture wound above his right flank.”
Those that found Tatches said his eyes were swollen from having his head smashed with an object.
“I can’t even imagine someone being that sick minded,” their neighbor said.
The Lopez family said that the amount of time their pony suffered is what hurt the most. They also said thank you to their friends and neighbors that have helped them.
If you have any information, please contact the Minidoka Sheriff’s Office at(208) 434-2324.
The Portneuf Animal Welfare Society or PAWS organization is offering a $1,500 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of whoever committed the torture and mutilation crime against the pony.
If you’d like to donate funds to help the family, a Go Fund Me page has been set up. You can find it at this website.
