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Woman Arrested for Allegedly Stabbing Horse in Front of Child Who Was at Ranch for Therapy
Investigators said the horse was stabbed multiple times and beaten with a whip, and the animal was found severely malnourished.
Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey accused 69-year-old Shirley Zimmerley of stabbing and whipping a horse on July 27, leading to her booking at the Brevard County Jail on one felony and two misdemeanor animal cruelty charges.
A child witnessing the attack reported the abuse to parents, prompting a Brevard County Sheriff's Office investigation that discovered the horse severely malnourished, scoring a 3 out of 9 on a body condition scale.
When questioned by investigators, Zimmerley alleged a cat caused the horse's wounds, but Sheriff Ivey dismissed the claim, stating, "No, a cat didn't do that," and calling the abuse "insane."
A judge issued an arrest warrant for Zimmerley with a $10,000 bond, a decision Ivey reportedly disagreed with; she remains in custody following the investigation.
Authorities discovered other horses on the property suffering from open sores, prompting officials to issue citations and mandate that Zimmerley hire a veterinarian to treat all animals on the ranch.