WASHINGTON, D.C. — Animal Wellness Action today announced a $5,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of whoever is shooting arrows into wild donkeys in Riverside County, Calif., in what authorities are calling a disturbing series of animal cruelty cases.
At least six wild donkeys have been found struck with arrows around Moreno Valley since 2018, with three of those incidents occurring in just the past two months. The most recent victim, a 2-year-old female burro nicknamed “Cupid,” was discovered Tuesday off Pigeon Pass Road with an arrow embedded in her chest and lung.
Thanks to coordinated efforts from Riverside County Animal Services, Moreno Valley Animal Control, and volunteers from DonkeyLand sanctuary, the injured burro was taken to SoCal Equine Hospital in Norco. Veterinarians removed part of the arrow and are preparing for additional surgery to remove the arrowhead lodged near her thoracic cavity.
“This is a deliberate and heinous act of cruelty against federally protected wild animals,” said Wayne Pacelle, president of Animal Wellness Action. “We are determined to help bring the perpetrators to justice and end this string of senseless attacks.”
DonkeyLand sanctuary has also posted a separate reward of $14,000 for information leading to an arrest and conviction.
Authorities are pursuing felony animal-cruelty charges and are asking the public to come forward with any tips. Each arrow retrieved so far has had a different-colored fletching, leading investigators to believe more than one individual may be involved.
Anyone with information about the attempted killing of these wild burros is urged to call the Riverside County Sheriff’s Moreno Valley Station at (951) 955-2400 or the Department of Animal Services at (951) 358-7387.
Animal Wellness Action is also pressing for stronger federal enforcement capacity to combat animal cruelty, citing the close link between cruelty to animals and violence toward humans. The Animal Cruelty Enforcement (ACE) Act, H.R. 1477, would create a team of dedicated prosecutors to work with local and federal authorities to enforce anti-cruelty laws, and the FBI Animal Cruelty Taskforce Act, H.R. 3683, would establish a specialized policing unit within the FBI to focus on animal cruelty crimes.