MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. – A 14-year-old Paso Fino horse named Paloma served as a therapy horse for people with mental disabilities until her retirement, her owner says.
She was among three horses believed to have been slaughtered for their meat in southwest Miami-Dade’s rural Redland area.
The slaughter took place in the area of Southwest 197th Avenue and 120th Street. Police began investigating Friday morning.
Authorities believe the suspects cut through a fence, walked the horses to a field and slaughtered them.
The horses’ owner, David Yepez, said he brought Paloma to the area from Kendall in October so she could enjoy her retirement. He said she and the other equines were taken to that Redland field Thursday night and slaughtered.
“A horse that gave so much to kids to parents, that helped out, to find such a cruel ending is just you wouldn’t expect,” Yepez said.
Also killed, he said, were 8-year-old Bucefalo and 20-year-old Miranda.
Yepez told Local 10 News they appeared to have been slaughtered for their meat, based on how they were butchered and mutilated.
“(It’s) a really hurtful experience,” he said. “You wouldn’t imagine people doing this for meat or for whatever reason whatsoever.”
Several investigators from the Miami-Dade Police Department were canvassing the area Friday morning..
The investigation comes a little more than a month after another Redland-area horse slaughter case.
In January, someone stole and slaughtered a 10-year-old male named Muneco and a 6-year-old female named Baby Doll, belonging to longtime resident Martha Insignares.
Police said while some may consider horse meat a delicacy that sells on the black market for top dollar, not only is it illegal to buy and sell, experts say it is not safe to eat.
“The medication that they give horses in order to remain healthy throughout their lives is not good for human consumption,” MDPD Detective Alvaro Zabaleta, an agency spokesperson said.
The suspects, if caught, face felony charges.
Anyone with information is asked to call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-8477.