Animal control officers Thursday were asking for the public’s help finding two dogs — and possibly their owner — responsible for fatally mauling a wild burro in Reche Canyon in one of a string of attacks that began last year.
“Because of a resident’s quick action filming and reporting the incident to us, we are now looking for the public’s help to find these two dogs,” Riverside County Department of Animal Services Commander Lesley Huennekens said. “We have shared what we know with our partner agencies, as we continue our investigation, and we ask the public to contact our call center when they have information to share.”
A black-and-tan German shepherd mix and a large black Cane Corso attacked the donkey Tuesday along Keissel Road north of Moreno Valley, nearly to the boundary separating Riverside and San Bernardino counties, according to the Department of Animal Services.
“The donkey in the attack is deceased,” the agency said.
The alert passerby captured the mauling via camera phone, submitting video and pictures to the county for evidence.
Animal control officers scoured the area after, but couldn’t find the dogs. It was unclear whether their owner was anywhere nearby at the time.
Last month, a $50,000 award for information leading to the arrest and successful prosecution of the individual or individuals responsible for the attacks was posted by the Riverside-based nonprofit DonkeyLand.
Huennekens’ and DonkeyLand representatives said in multiple instances, burros’ ears and tails have been ripped to shreds; in other cases, their genitalia and other body parts were mangled. Most of the injured donkeys have been euthanized due to the extreme wounds.
A total 22 wild burros have been targeted. Fourteen attacks have occurred in the last 10 weeks. Of the 22, only four have been successfully treated and saved.
In addition to the animal-on-animal bloodletting, six donkeys have been shot with arrows. However, the abuse of burros singled out for live target practice has occurred repeatedly over the past two decades, with no arrests.
The reward poster refers to whoever is perpetrating the attacks as “a serial killer.”
The burros number in the hundreds and congregate throughout Reche Canyon between Moreno Valley and Redlands, as well as everywhere around Box Springs Mountain in Moreno Valley and Riverside, freely wandering municipal streets, even sleeping in the yards outside homes.
Chad Cheatham, vice president of DonkeyLand, said during a community meeting last week that he was shocked to discover the “whole industry of trainers (using) dogs as bite protection dogs.”
Anyone who may be able to help with the investigations was urged to call the Department of Animal Services at 951-358-7387, or the Sheriff’s Department at 951-776-1099.