YELM, Wash. -- Preliminary necropsy results indicated Thursday that someone intentionally cut off the tongue of a privately owned horse in Yelm, Thurston County sheriff's deputies said.
The 28-year-old horse named Annie had to be euthanized Wednesday night because she wouldn't have been able to eat or drink without its tongue.
Annie the horse.
The first Thurston County Sheriff's deputy on the scene after the horse's problem was discovered Tuesday thought it was an intentional act, but then questions were raised by a veterinarian as to whether the horse might have severed its own tongue in an accident.
The Necropsy performed by forensic veterinarian Victoria Smith, of the Steamboat Animal Hospital, showed it was no accident.
Preliminary results indicate intentional trauma, Deputy Carrie Nastansky said, adding that there was a very clean cut all the way at the base of the tongue.
She said Annie's teeth were so degraded at the back of her mouth due to age that there is no way she could have bitten it off.
In addition, Annie's tongue was found in the middle of her owner's property with no signs of being moved or dragged around, as it might have been in an accident. So investigators believe this is a case of animal abuse.
Additional X-ray results and lab work are still pending.
Thurston Countys sheriff's deputies say Annie was found by her owner in the backyard in the 9500 block of Bridge Road in Yelm. “She saw what she thought was originally a dog KONG toy. She realized it was actually a horse tongue. It was about 6 inches long so she went and immediately went and checked on her horse and the horse was bleeding from the mouth," said Deputy Nastanksy.
She immediately remembered another recent case of animal abuse nearby. Deputies say it's possible they may be connected.
"There was a situation a couple months ago with a sheep that was found maybe half a mile from this location that was found alive, emaciated, which is extremely skinny, in two garbage bags. It was found by two girls riding their horses and we, unfortunately, weren’t able to find that person," said Deputy Nastansky.
Missing Attachment Missing Attachment Missing AttachmentPasado's Safe Haven and Washington's Most Wanted Host David Rose are offering a $2,000 reward to anyone who can help Thurston County sheriff's deputies solve what could be a horrendous case of animal abuse in Annie's case. Additionally, Crime Stoppers of the South Sound is offering a reward of up to $1,000 for tips leading to an arrest in the case. " Somebody out there doing something like this absolutely needs to be caught. This is not something we can let run rampant around our county or any other area," said Deputy Nastanksy.
Anyone with information on a possible suspect can remain anonymous. Submit a tip at nastanc@co.thurston.wa.us or by calling Thurston County Sheriff's dispatch at 360-704-2740. You can also submit an anonymous tip to Crime Stoppers of the South Sound at 1-800-222-TIPS, via the P3 Tips App on your phone, or at www.P3Tips.com.
If you would like to contribute to the reward amount, contact Pasado's Safe Haven.
A reward is being offered by Pasado's Safe Haven and Washington's Most Wanted host David Rose.