RIVERSIDE, Calif. (KABC) — Community outrage is growing in Riverside over recent attacks on wild donkeys roaming Reche Canyon. Now, the search is on for whoever is responsible.
It was a packed house on Monday night as residents gathered for a town hall meeting to demand answers and protection for the wild burros being brutally attacked in the Inland Empire.
Community concern has been growing after nearly two dozen wild donkeys have been brutalized. Most of the injured animals have been found in Reche Canyon near Moreno Valley.
“Something’s going on, and it’s scary. That’s my concern… and I love the donkeys where I’m at,” said Theresa St. Germain from Riverside.
Residents met with law enforcement and animal control at a town hall meeting on Monday to talk about the vicious attacks. A $50,000 reward is now being offered for the arrest and conviction of whoever is responsible.
Photos collected by volunteers with the non-profit organization Donkeyland show multiple donkeys with gruesome injuries to their ears, faces and tails. One photo from last September shows a burro shot with an arrow. Another, more recent photo shows a burro that was decapitated.
“It’s abhorrent that they are leaving the animals out there to suffer, and the vast majority of them have had to be euthanized because of the injuries to their genitals,” said Abigail Ware from Loma Linda.
The donkeys have been roaming the area for decades. Donkeyland now maintains more than 2,000 acres to try to keep them safe.
“We need to find out who’s doing this. I mean, it’s severe animal cruelty. Four out of like 21 have been able to be saved. The other ones we have to euthanize, and we don’t even know how many are wandering the hills and dying out there without help at all,” said Sandi Resheske with Donkeyland.
Investigators say it appears that the donkeys are being attacked by dogs. The non-profit organization Donkeyland says the wounds are intentional.
READ MORE: Nearly 2 dozen donkeys attacked in Reche Canyon in IE; advocates believe attacks are intentional
Animal advocates are growing increasingly concerned about the number of donkeys being attacked near Moreno Valley. Photos show burros with gruesome injuries to their ears, faces and tails.
“It looks like these might be trained bite dogs, if you will. And I didn’t know about this whole industry of trainers training dogs as bite protection dogs,” said Chad Cheatham, the VP of Donkeyland.
“These donkeys are being attacked higher up on the body, a more dangerous location for the animal to attack,” said Dr. Juan Castellanos at SoCal Equine Hospital. “So it looks like there’s some intent, like someone is telling them, or training them to do it like that. Your typical predatory animals would never go for areas like that. It would get themselves killed or hurt.”
Most attacks are happening in the early morning hours. Residents say they are frustrated by law enforcement’s lack of response.
“We know you need to network on social media, but we need the calls. They need to contact us directly. They need to be willing to come forward, give us a statement. If they have evidence, please supply that to us,” said Lesley Huennekens with the Riverside County Department of Animal Services.
Investigators and residents are hoping the $50,000 reward will be key to solving the attacks. Anyone with information is urged to call the Riverside County Department of Animal Services.
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