Animal lovers have almost doubled the reward on offer for information about a thug who attacked a family pony, injuring it so severely that it had to be put down.
Heartbroken owner Zoe Wright revealed yesterday that her 18-year-old mare, Blaze, had been stabbed twice in the chest and sexually assaulted while grazing in a field near New Pitsligo.
The horse, described as a much loved pet, suffered internal bleeding in the assault on Saturday night and was put to sleep by vets.
Ms Wright, from Maud, put up a reward of £1,000 for anyone who could lead police to the culprit.
And last night she revealed she had been inundated with pledges of support from members of the public who were sickened by the incident and wanted to help the investigation.
The 30-year-old, who owns six horses and competes as a show jumper, said: “There have been a few people messaging me, offering money to add to the reward, which has been absolutely amazing.
“We’re going to tally it up and add it on. Including the £1,000 I got from my brother, we’re up to about £1,900.
“The police were here for most of the day, and in the next couple of days we might have more of an idea of what has happened.”
Detective inspector Norman Stevenson said inquiries were ongoing.
“As a result of this cruel act a horse has died and a family have now lost a much-loved animal,” he added.
“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, land owners and people who work in the area to contact us to report anything unusual or suspicious.”
The Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SSPCA) has joined forces with Police Scotland in the hunt for Blaze’s attacker.
Last night, the charity’s senior inspector, Alison Simpson, said: “We have received calls about a disturbing incident involving a horse in New Pitsligo, Aberdeenshire, and are assisting the police with their inquiries.
“Anyone with any information should contact our animal helpline on 03000 999 999 or Police Scotland on 101.”