Date
October 6, 2006
Contact
Sheriff James Haywood
(662) 887-2121
Deputy George Renfro
(662) 887-2121
Doll Stanley (IDA)
(662) 237-0233
In Defense of Animals
3010 Kerner Blvd
San Rafael
CA 94901
IDA is an international, California-based animal advocacy organization dedicated to ending the abuse and exploitation of animals by defending their rights, welfare and habitats.
IDA Offers $2500 Reward for Information Leading to Arrest and Conviction of Person(s) Responsible for Raping and Killing Blind Horse
Ruleville, Miss. – On October 5, 2006, authorities in Sunflower County discovered a grisly scene: a blind mare lay dead after being raped, roped and shoved off a bridge. "Peaches," a 28- year-old registered Appaloosa with uveitis (moon blindness) was one of seven horses belonging to Ms. Ginger Pope of Cleveland.
"I went out to the barn around 8:15 Thursday morning, like always, and noticed that Peaches’ wasn’t hollering to get out and into the front pasture like she always does," explained Pope, who had purchased the mare six years ago for her 9-year-old nephew. "I’d never seen a horse who was so good with children as Peaches was. She taught my nephew how to ride; all he had to do was saddle up and off they went. She really was a gentle horse and he had a strong connection with her."
"It’s a horrible thing that happened to that horse," says Sunflower County Sheriff James Haywood. "I’ve never seen anything like that – that somebody would be that cruel. We definitely need to find these people and make sure they do jail time." Leads from concerned citizens may be the only hope for finding whoever committed the reprehensible act.
International animal protection organization In Defense of Animals (IDA) is offering a reward of $2,500 for any information which results in the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for raping and killing the horse. Anyone, especially someone who was traveling along Lust Road between Thursday evening and Friday morning, with any information about the crime is encouraged to contact Sheriff Hayward and/or Deputy George Renfro at (662) 887-2121.
F.B.I. and Department of Justice studies have proven a connection between animal abuse and—later in life—domestic violence, child abuse and serial killings. Infamous murderers—including Ted Bundy, Earl Kenneth Shriner, David Berkowitz, Brenda Spencer and Columbine High School’s Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold—began their careers by torturing and mutilating animals for their own amusement.
"When people report animal cruelty, they help the police and the local humane society protect animals and people from intensified violence," says Elliot M. Katz, DVM, President and founder of In Defense of Animals. "My experience with cases like this tells me that there is a lot more going on than what we are seeing."
For more information about In Defense of Animals, visit www.idausa.org. Statistics about the link between violence to animals and violence to humans are available at www.guardiancampaign.com/violencestats.htm.