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| Horse stabbed and assaulted in Scotland | Horse stabbed and assaulted in Scotland |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Police in Aberdeenshire have launched an investigation after a horse was stabbed and “sexually violated” in a field. | Police in Aberdeenshire have launched an investigation after a horse was stabbed and “sexually violated” in a field. |
| The mare, named Blaze, had to be put down after the attack in the New Pitsligo area overnight on Sunday. | |
| Owner Zoe Wright has offered a £1,000 reward to anyone who provides information that results in an arrest. Police Scotland said the horse was aged 23. | Owner Zoe Wright has offered a £1,000 reward to anyone who provides information that results in an arrest. Police Scotland said the horse was aged 23. |
| In a Facebook post that has been shared more than 10,400 times, she wrote: “On the 16th/17th of August between the hours of 9pm and 6am someone came into my horse’s field and stabbed my beautiful old girl Blaze twice in the chest before sexually violating her. Blaze was put to sleep after succumbing to her injuries. | In a Facebook post that has been shared more than 10,400 times, she wrote: “On the 16th/17th of August between the hours of 9pm and 6am someone came into my horse’s field and stabbed my beautiful old girl Blaze twice in the chest before sexually violating her. Blaze was put to sleep after succumbing to her injuries. |
| “My lovely Blaze was the nicest pony, she has been part of our family for 18 years, the complete low-life scum who did this to her needs to face justice for what they have done.” | “My lovely Blaze was the nicest pony, she has been part of our family for 18 years, the complete low-life scum who did this to her needs to face justice for what they have done.” |
| She urged other horse owners in the area to check their animals and look out for any suspicious cuts. | She urged other horse owners in the area to check their animals and look out for any suspicious cuts. |
| A Police Scotland spokesman said: “We have had a report of an injured horse in the New Pitsligo area and inquiries are ongoing into the incident. Anyone with information should get in touch.” | A Police Scotland spokesman said: “We have had a report of an injured horse in the New Pitsligo area and inquiries are ongoing into the incident. Anyone with information should get in touch.” |
| The incident is understood to have happened between 9pm on 16 August and 8pm on 17 August. | The incident is understood to have happened between 9pm on 16 August and 8pm on 17 August. |
| DI Norman Stevenson said: “Inquiries are ongoing to establish what has happened to the horse but I would appeal directly to any neighbours or residents in the area who may have seen anything unusual or suspicious in the days before this happened. As a result of this cruel act a horse has died and a family have now lost a much-loved animal. | DI Norman Stevenson said: “Inquiries are ongoing to establish what has happened to the horse but I would appeal directly to any neighbours or residents in the area who may have seen anything unusual or suspicious in the days before this happened. As a result of this cruel act a horse has died and a family have now lost a much-loved animal. |
| “We have not received any reports of similar incidents in the area but I would urge horse owners to check their animals regularly and report anything unusual to police. Patrols are carried out frequently in rural areas but we do rely on residents, landowners and people who work in the area to contact us to report anything unusual or suspicious.” | “We have not received any reports of similar incidents in the area but I would urge horse owners to check their animals regularly and report anything unusual to police. Patrols are carried out frequently in rural areas but we do rely on residents, landowners and people who work in the area to contact us to report anything unusual or suspicious.” |