It is well known that horsepeople consider their horses as more than mere commodities -- most of the time the equines are considered family. It is for that reason that a $10,000 reward is now being offered by a
North Carolina man for information leading to the arrest of whomever shot a pair of his horses at close range.
The salisburypost.com reported earlier this week that at roughly 11:30 p.m. on Friday, October 2, a standardbred and a quarter horse owned by George Stirewalt, Sr. of Rockwell were each shot under their right eyes with a small calibre firearm at close range
The incident was heard by Stirewalt's daughter, Montie Cline, who instantly rushed out to the barn area and found Wittie -- a 24-year-old retired standardbred -- and Sugar Plum -- a seven-year-old quarter horse -- bloodied and very scared in their stalls.
Stirewalt initially announced a $2,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the perpetrator, but a story today on salisburypost.com states that the horse owner has increased the reward to $10,000.
"If they'll shoot an animal in a stall, they'll shoot you," Stirewalt was quoted as saying in the latest salisburypost.com report.
"It would take a sick individual to shoot one horse, to stand there and watch what the shot did and then do it again to another one," Cline was quoted as saying Wednesday, October 7.
Click here to the read the latest salisburypost.com article, which offers a complete update on the horses, including pictures of the equine and barn area.
(With files from salisburypost.com)
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