Bedford County horses throats slashed, animal cruelty investigation underway

MONTVALE, Va. -- The Bedford County Sheriff's Office is investigating what it calls a "heinous" animal cruelty case, in which someone slashed the throats of three horses.

For years, Chris Boyd and his girlfriend have been taking care of her cousin's horses Mary Jane, Rainy, and Roxi.  He says he was inside last Sunday morning when their owner came running to him with devastating news -- she had found all three horses with deep knife wounds to their throats.

"It was like a movie," said Boyd.  "I couldn't believe it.  I've never seen nothin like that.  It's just sad.  They're good horses."

Each horse was left with a wound three to four inches deep and six to eight inches long.  Fortunately all of them survived, though their vet says if the knife had gone any deeper, they'd likely be dead.

Bedford County Sheriff's deputies responded to the scene, collected evidence, and sent out a reverse 911 call asking nearby residents for information.  No arrests have been made, but investigators say they now believe this was an isolated incident.

"Obviously this is a very mean-spirited individual that would do that to an animal," said Major Ricky Gardner with the Bedford County Sheriff's Office.  "The motive just doesn't make any sense."

Boyd says he can't process why someone would do this either -- and hopes the perpetrator is caught.

"When you go hurting animals, what are you gonna hurt next?" said Boyd.  "I can't get on the same wavelength with people that do stuff like this."

Investigators say the case remains a priority.

"For the obvious reason to make sure they don't do it again," said Gardner.  "And to punish them for committing such a heinous crime."

For now, Boyd says he's happy the horses are alive -- and while he's encouraged that their wounds are recovering nicely, he says it will take some time before the emotional scars heal for both him and the animals.

"This is senseless," said Boyd.

If you have any information about this crime, you are urged to call the Bedford County Sheriff's Office at (540) 586-7827.