The owner of two miniature horses injured by shotgun blasts Tuesday in Weld County wants punishment for the culprit to involve visiting nursing homes with the two pet-therapy animals.
“We’re not looking for the head of who did it, or any severe punishment,” said the horses’ owner, Kandace Diekman, 33. She wants the culprit to see what he or she took from people in need.
The mini-horses, Harriet, a 3-year-old filly, and Friday, a 1-year-old male, were recovering, but doctors were unable to remove the pellets imbedded in them. One of the horses had 27 birdshot pellet wounds, the other had 36, authorities said. Both were shot in the shoulder and neck, Diekman said.
The horses are among several miniature animals used for hospital patient therapy and as a mobile petting zoo. The shootings occurred Tuesday in the 25000 block of County Road 45, between Kersey and Greeley.
Staff writer Manny Gonzales can be reached at 303-820-1537 or mgonzales@denverpost.com.
