The Sheriff’s Office is again asking for the public’s help, and this time a reward is being offered. Because of two separate donations, one organized by AZ State Representative Kelly Townsend in the amount of $5,000.00 which comes from the International Society of the Protection of Mustangs and Burrows and another from the Schill Law Group, $1000.00, and the Sheriff’s Office is able to offer a $6000.00 reward for any information leading to the arrest and conviction of the shooter or shooters involved.
Sheriff Joe Arpaio reports that his Animal Crimes Unit has been investigating the shooting death of Dotty, the Salt River Horse which occurred earlier in the month, and now a reward for information is being offered.
Just last week the Sheriff’s Office was called to the Salt River Recreational area near Coon Bluff regarding a horse that had been shot. Initially Sheriff’s deputies did not find anything suspicious until a necropsy was completed by a veterinarian.
The outcome of the necropsy showed that the horse was killed by gunshot, and prior to that had been healthy, showing no signs that someone would have to put down the animal.
“This issue is important to a number of people in our community,” said Sheriff Arpaio, “this reward money could go a long way in solving the case. We will follow every lead, make every effort to find the suspect and bring justice to Dotty’s death.”
Along with the $6000.00 reward, Representative Townsend, who has been actively involved in the case is looking to raise money to increase the reward.
Representative Townsend says “There is no other animal that optimizes the idea of pure freedom more than the wild horse. They are sovereign unto themselves, and have enjoyed that freedom long before Arizona became a State. Shooting one of our beloved icons, whether it was with malicious intent or a perceived mercy killing, was an illegal act and that person(s) must be brought to justice. I firmly believe that someone knows who the shooter is, and it is my hope that this reward money will be incentive enough for them to come forward.”
Sheriff Arpaio says the Salt River Horses have been in the spotlight in recent months after the National Forest Service announced the removal of the herd from forest land. Organizations from across the Country fought to keep that removal from occurring. For now, the Forest Service has postponed the removal of the horses until further review. It is unclear whether the shooting of Dotty the horse could be connected with the controversy surrounding the Horses.
Sheriff Arpaio has been a huge animal advocate, making investigating animal cruelty one of his top priorities, which has resulted in hundreds of investigations and a number of arrests. During the course of some of those investigations, the Sheriff’s Office has seized a large number of horses from their abusers, and placed them into the Sheriff’s Tent City jail where Sheriff’s inmates care for them. As of today, Sheriff Arpaio has 15 horses and 5 donkeys in his jail that are available or are in the process of being made available for adoption.
The Sheriff’s Office is asking anyone with information to call the Sheriff’s Office Animal Cruelty Hotline at (602)876-1681 or by email at animal_cruelty@mcso.maricopa.gov.