‘It’s pure evil’: Mutilated goat, miniature horse carcasses found near Brandon

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This article was published 28/03/2017 (3144 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The discovery of several mutilated animals — many skinned and tied — in a steep ditch in southwestern Manitoba is being described as “disturbing” and “evil” by local residents and police.

First, they found a dead goat last weekend with its hind legs tied together and its ears removed. A couple days later, a frozen miniature pony was reported found near the same location, also with its ears cut off. 

Both animals were found about 15 kilometres south of Brandon, off Highway 10, in the Rural Municipality of Whitewater.

That was unsettling enough for Tracy Munn, manager of the Brandon Humane Society.

But when the Manitoba RCMP reported Tuesday that three coyotes and one raccoon had been found in the same location — all with their ears removed — Munn’s fear level spiked.

“Oh, God,” Munn said. “I’m scared now. Somebody has no empathy to do something like that. It’s a sick thing.

“We see ugly stuff all the time,” she added. “But this is blatant, in-your-face. To me, they’re monsters. It’s pure evil.”

According to the RCMP, the animal mutilations appear related to one culprit or culprits.

“They (the coyotes and raccoon) were located close to the remains of the miniature pony,” said RCMP spokesperson Tara Seel. “The animals also had their ears removed.”

Seel said the animals found Tuesday didn’t appear to be tied up in any way, but said “there’s going to be a full examination of the remains.” It has yet to be determined whether the animals were killed recently or months/weeks ago and only now being found as the snow melts, she said.

Heather Eagle Bears, who lives along the Souris River, in the Riverside Valley, found all the animals. Eagle Bears notified the RCMP on Monday, after finding the goat and pony, and they immediately responded.

“That (the goat) was disturbing,” she said. “The horse really blew my mind.”

While waiting for the veternarian to come to investigate on Tuesday, Eagle Bears found the pile of “skin and bones” that turned out to be the coyotes and raccoon. All animals were found within less than a kilometre of one another, in a steep ditch.

Asked what to make of the grisly discoveries, Eagle Bears replied: “There are some sick people running around doing some cruel, inhumane things. It’s quite disturbing.”

It is too early to determine the motivation for such mutilations, Seel said, or what kind of perpetrators police might be dealing with. The only concern is to find whoever is responsible before more animals are found.

“Like a lot of people, I’m an animal lover,” Seel added. “Is this disturbing? Yes, of course it is.”

The RCMP is working with the Chief Veterinary Office of Manitoba on the investigation.

Police are requesting any information that could be provided by the public.

The area described is somewhere between Brandon and the village of Minto.

Blue Hills RCMP Cpl. Mike Boychuk said animal cruelty cases are reported occasionally in Westman, noting this is the first time he has seen anything like this in his career.

“Be aware of your livestock, make sure they’re all there, and report any suspicious behaviour,” Boychuk told the Brandon Sun. “You never know if people are coming by and taking livestock, but there are so many different scenarios as to what could be happening.”

Munn was less diplomatic in her assessment of the culprits. Not all people who abuse animals are serial killers, she said, but the vast majority of serial killers start by mutilating animals, both wild and domestic. “People might not like to hear that, but it’s a fact,” she said.

Munn didn’t believe youngsters were responsible, noting that “you don’t want to mess with a coyote.”

“Normal people don’t do these kind of things,” she added. “Somebody needs to pay and go to jail. This isn’t just animal abuse, it’s sick.”

Anyone with information on this matter is encouraged to contact the Blue Hills RCMP Brandon Detachment at 204-726-7522.

Callers who wish to remain anonymous can call Manitoba Crime Stoppers toll free at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS).

randy.turner@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @randyturner15

– with files from the Brandon Sun