Animal control officers in Riverside County are investigating after a wild donkey was found with an arrow lodged in its shoulder in Moreno Valley. The incident marks the third such attack on donkeys in the area within the past two months. The injured donkey was discovered near Pigeon Pass Road and Quail Call Drive, according to Animal Control Officer Will Luna. He described the act as a felony and emphasized the seriousness of the crime, stating, “This is very serious, this is a felony for anyone who’s doing this, and it’s a shame. They’re harmless.”
NBC Los Angeles reports that animal control officers managed to secure the injured donkey in a fenced area, where its herd has remained close by during its recovery. Plans are in place to transport the donkey to SoCal Equine Hospital in Norco for treatment, and it may later be transferred to DonkeyLand Rescue.
Authorities believe the same individual may be targeting the herd, as previous attacks involved donkeys that either escaped or were not found. The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department, in collaboration with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, is actively investigating the case and has urged the public to provide any information that could lead to the suspect. The case is being treated as a felony animal cruelty investigation, and officials have reminded the public that harming these federally-protected animals can result in significant criminal charges and fines.
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