Shocking video sparks animal abuse investigation in Grand County (video contains obscene language and disturbing images)
Updated 4 p.m. Monday with new information from the Grand County Sheriff’s Office.
This is the original, full-length video posted to Facebook on Sunday showing a horse being pulled by a pickup truck in Grand Lake. Warning: Video contains obscene language and disturbing images.
A video showing a horse being dragged behind a pickup truck in Grand Lake has prompted swift outrage and an investigation into whether the people involved will be charged with animal abuse.
The Grand County Sheriff’s Office hosted a press conference on Monday afternoon to share more information about the investigation, which is still ongoing.
“Currently, the owners are cooperating in the investigation, ” said Sheriff Brett Schroetlin. “We are in the process of transferring the horse to the Colorado Humane Society.”
On Sunday, a woman posted a minute long video on Facebook of a horse being tied to a truck hitch by its bridle and pulled across the property while the horse actively resists.
The original video post has since been taken down, but a shorter clip circulating Facebook had been viewed over 28,000 times by Monday morning.
Shroetlin said a veterinarian evaluated the horse and found no obvious trauma, but reported the horse was tender and gave it pain medication. Further evaluations will be done to ensure the horse’s health.
In the original Facebook post, the owner of the horse says they checked its tendons and muscles after the video to ensure the horse wasn’t injured.
The sheriff’s office began its investigation after receiving “countless” messages from people in the community asking them to press charges immediately.
Lt. Dan Mayer, spokesman for the sheriff’s office, confirmed the office is looking into the video and working with the 14th Judicial District Attorney’s office.
While many people have called for the couple involved to be immediately punished, Mayer said, the laws surrounding animal abuse are somewhat open to interpretation, and others might argue the video only shows regular ranching activity.
Eli Pace / epace@skyhinews.com
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