Monterey County SPCA offering reward in $1,000 horse abandonment case

The SPCA for Monterey County is offering a $1,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of whoever abandoned a horse in Royal Oaks earlier this week.

The horse was spotted loose in the area of San Miguel Canyon Road in Royal Oaks on Sunday. The horse, gelding approximately 12-15 years old, was underweight and suffering from a severe, painful leg deformity believed to have been caused by a significant, untreated injury. The horse also had severely overgrown hooves that had not been trimmed in several months. The animal was in extreme pain and had likely been suffering for months, according to the SPCA. It was humanely euthanized on the recommendation of equine veterinarians because of its painful suffering.

Anyone with information about the case or who can identify the horse is asked to contact the SPCA at 373-2631.

If caught, the horse’s owner or owners could potentially face charges of animal cruelty, animal neglect and animal abandonment.