Poisoned horses

[Kermit]

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,536 ... latestnews

RANCHO SANTA FE, Calif. — A San Diego County ranch owner says 23 show horses have been poisoned by someone who fed them highly toxic oleander leaves.

Debbie Tomin, owner of Rockridge Farm in Rancho Santa Fe, says three horses are seriously ill and are undergoing treatment at an equine hospital.

The other horses, including two pregnant mares, are being treated at the ranch.

Tomin says workers discovered the sick American Saddlebred horses Thursday morning and a feed mix of sliced apples and carrots, which disguised the bitter oleander.

Tomin says someone broke into the ranch overnight. The sheriff's department is investigating.

The ranch has about 30 show horses worth about $2 million. Four are owned by the ranch; the rest are boarded for clients.

[Sonyaluvslavaman]

That is disgusting. I hope they catch the scumbags.

[ScrapingThePaint]

That is disgusting. I hope they catch the scumbags.

Heartbreaking.

Bill Tomin's interview on channel 8 was especially moving.

http://www.cbs8.com/Global/story.asp?S=10827497

As he said, if someone did it because of a grudge against him, confront him with it. Don't take it out on innocent animals.

I hope all the horses recover and that there is no permanent damage to them or to the foals from the two pregnant mares that were poisoned.

[ScrapingThePaint]

Another report:

http://www3.signonsandiego.com/stories/ ... dex=141838

Excerpt

Although competition can be fierce, Tomin said that he does not believe anyone in the tightknit world of show horses would stoop to poisoning.
“Nobody does this – this is some wack,” he said.
He said he plans to have a security camera system installed at the ranch Monday.
Debbie Tomin said she and her husband get along well with their neighbors, and they do not suspect any of their employees.
She said they think that someone climbed over a large gate between 2 and 3 a.m. Thursday and fed the horses so quietly that no one, including workers who live near the barn, was awakened. When the stall doors were opened, the toxic mixture spilled out.
“If we didn't act quickly, the horses would have died one by one,” she said.

A $10,000 reward is being offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for the crime.

[Beckron]

Someone replied on the comments that local grocery stores should check their surveillance for someone buying a large supply of apples and carrots, sounds like a possible way to find them, maybe.