Over the past several months, Florida horse owners have been on edge due to a spate of brutal killings where horses were butchered for their meat. Some resolution is finally in sight as Miami-Dade police made their first arrest in the case earlier this week.
Police are cautioning local horse owners to remain on guard, however, as they do not currently believe that Cordero was behind the earlier horse killings. At least 17 horses have been stolen and slaughtered in Florida this year.
The horse thefts have taken place in a widespread area, and have involved horses kept in both pastures and barns. According to an ABC News report, the common thread seems to be that the killings take place in more remote, low-traffic areas where there is less chance of an eyewitness.
Florida horse owners and enthusiasts have come together to help look out for the area horses. Owners and residents have set up Barn Watch programs to look out for suspicious people or activities in equestrian areas. Additionally, there are multiple cash rewards offered for information on the killings. For more information, visit the Miami Dade Crime Stoppers website.
There are several precautions horse owners can take to keep their horses safe at home.
- If you have gates that lead directly to the road, lock them at night. However, do not lock barn doors in case of fire or other emergency where horses would need to be evacuated.
- Install floodlights or motion-detector lights around the barn area and near the road. A well-lit, highly visible location is not attractive to theives
- Bring the horses in the barn or keep them confined in an area close to the house at night.
- Keep fences in good repair, and when possible, use board fencing near the road instead of wire or tape, which is easy to cut.
- Consider an alarm system for the barn, or a dog that will bark an alert when strangers show up on the property.
- Get to know your neighbors, horse owners or otherwise, and ask them to alert you if they notice strangers on or around your property when you’re not there.
Read more horse theft prevention tips
How awful!!! An eighteen year old??!!
Glad the killer was caught!
The things people will do for money. Glad he was caught, i hope they get the rest of the killers.
Im glad they caught one of the thieves involved, I hope they catch the rest of the dirty louses and give them the death penalty, and slaughter them like they did those poor innocent Horses.
What the poo is going on!? What makes people sleep at night knowing they just murdered animals especially cute horses, is beyond me!
I can’t believe people can do this. I’m glad they caught him and hope they keep him for a long time.
I love horses and it makes me sad to know someone could do this to such a beautiful animal. Im glad they caught this guy!!
A better alarm system is GEESE. They are very territorial, they don’t like strangers and they can’t be bribed to shut up with steak laced with sedatives. They will announce everyone who dares to come on your property. They are fabulous!
Oh my gosh, that is HORRIBLE!!!! Reading this article just made me shudder. My deepest regards of sympathy to those who lost their horses to this crime. I’m glad they caught him.
I completely agree with Helen! we have geese, and they are the most incredible watchers. sometimes i try to sneak up on them really quietly but they still hear me and they just honk like crazy if they see or hear ANYONE
He deserves death!!!