Reward offered in Monterey County animal mutilation cases

An animal protection organization is offering a $2,500 reward for information leading to the arrest of those responsible for the mutilation and killing of animals in the Salinas riverbed.

The animals are being found outside of Greenfield at Elm Bridge and also at San Lucas.

A volunteer with the Humane Farming Association (HFA) said they obtained public records detailing multiple mutilated dogs, goats and chickens have been dumped in the Salinas riverbed since at least 2016.

“The injuries we were finding were beheadings of goat, dismemberments, skinning of goats, but they didn’t use the meat,” said Rhonda Somerton, a volunteer with the Humane Farming Association. “Roosters and chickens with their heads cut off and they’re feet cut off and stuff like that.”

The HFA said their current investigation revealed the most recent dumping of animals was in Nov. 2018.

According to the HFA, a necropsy performed on one of the dogs in 2016 revealed extreme mutilation of the animal. The HFA said information about this dog and other animals dumped at the site was never made public.

“Chickens and turkeys have been found in bags with candles, flowers, and herbs, common accoutrements known to be used in the practice of ritualistic animal sacrifice,” said the Humane Farming Association.

Somerton also suggested some of the animals could have been used in fighting.

“There definitely should be jail time because to me an animal is very innocent,” said Ray Munoz, a Hollister resident.

Anyone with information about the animal dumping should contact the Humane Farming Association at montereycountyanimaltips@hfa.org.