RULISON, Colo.—Investigators are trying to figure out why someone shot a horse in the head and left the animal to die in Western Colorado.
The Garfield County sheriff’s office says the horse survived and a veterinarian is taking care of it. Investigators say it looks like the horse was unloaded from a trailer near an interstate exit and shot with a small-caliber gun this week.
The horse is a gray gelding in his late teens or early 20s.
Officials would not speculate why the animal was shot but Colorado horse-rescue groups say they’ve heard stories of horse owners shooting their animals because they can’t afford to take care of them. The rescue groups say they’re receiving more horses because of the bad economy.
The sheriff’s office says the person responsible for the shooting could face animal cruelty charges.
———
Information from: The Denver Post,
