Florida Horses Found Butchered in Miami-Dade County

Less than two weeks into the new year, two horses have been found butchered in separate incidents.
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Less than two weeks into the new year, two horses have been found butchered in Miami-Dade County, Fla., in separate incidents.

Richard Cuoto, founder of the Florida-based Animal Recovery Mission, which investigates illegal horse slaughter farms in that state, said that on Jan. 2 a horse’s head was discovered lying beneath a royal palm tree in a neighborhood in rural Miami-Dade County. Cuoto believes the incident could represent a ritualistic sacrifice in the Santeria religion.

“We are told that in the Santeria religion there are animal sacrifices to ensure good luck for the coming year and we have (seen) goats, dogs, and cats, as well as horses, used in this way,” Cuoto said. “We believe that, since the horse’s head was found under a royal palm tree, that it was used for this purpose.”

However, Det. Robin N. Pinkard, of the Miami-Dade Police Department public information bureau, said horses are not generally used in that way

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Written by:

Pat Raia is a veteran journalist who enjoys covering equine welfare, industry, and news. In her spare time, she enjoys riding her Tennessee Walking Horse, Sonny.

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