MIAMI-DADE COUNTY (CBS4) — Mutilated, and cut up, the body of another
horse has been found dead along a northwest Miami-Dade road. Miami-Dade
Police say this is the 17th horse butchered in the county since mid-January.

Body of slaughtered horse (click image to view video)

The latest one was slaughtered Sunday at a farm along the 12-thousand
block of NW 157th Street. According to a police report, the horse was
missing chunks of meat on its chest and legs. Police speculate it was
killed for its meat.

Two horses were found slaughtered in a similar way in nearby Miramar
several months ago. Authorities there also believe the horses were
butchered for their meat. Officials believe the meat is being sold on
the black market since the sale of horse meat is illegal in the U.S. No
arrests have been made.

Horse owner Allen Owens, whose horse was previously butchered, is
pleading for the public’s help.

“He was my 4th child. He was my wife’s 4th child. We saw him born,” Owen
told CBS4’s Peter D’Oench.

Owens is haunted by the slaughter of his black and white paint,
“Commanche.” She was just 16 months old.

“For me it’s like what did I ever do to somebody? For them to do this to
me. I had no concept that someone would do this to an animal, for its
meat,” said Owens.

Owens was told he was one of the first owners in Miami-Dade whose horses
have been killed for their meat. He found “Commanche” tied to a post and
horribly mutilated on August 30th of 2007.

“They laid his leg bones up here. 3 legs were missing. His hide was
taken. It was the biggest bloodiest mess I’ve ever seen,” explained Owens.

Horse meat can be sold on the black market for up to $40 a pound.

“They have to be barbarians. They have to be unbelievable people to do
this to an animal,” said Owens. “What he’s done to my family. You never
get past it.”

Owens is speaking out now after a five year old horse was butchered this
past weekend in Northwest Miami-Dade, right in front of her 4-month old
foal. A caretaker burned his body after the discovery.

“Every time I hear about another one, I relive the pain. And it’s
getting worse. It’s time for somebody to do something.”

The SPCA says no one should be buying horse meat. It’s contaminated
because horses often consume all sorts of drugs, de-wormers and antibiotics.

“Whoever is going to buy this meat is going to be sick. You’re paying
$20 to $40 a pound to make yourself sick,” explained SPCA Investigator
Richard Cuoto.

Owens says the black market butchers must be stopped.

“I don’t think any punishment would be strong enough, no punishment
would fit. Commanche loved us. And he loved people,” said Owens.

There are no leads in Commanche’s slaughter.