Cape County sheriff investigating possible animal shootings

The Cape Girardeau County Sheriff's Department is investigating two possible animal shootings in the rural area north of Cape Girardeau.

The department has fielded complaints from two landowners concerned about injured or dead farm animals in recent weeks. One report, concerning two donkeys found dead weeks apart, was determined to be unfounded, Lt. David James said. A veterinarian who examined the donkeys found no gunshot wounds or bleeding typical of a gunshot.

On another farm, however, a wounded horse and a wounded donkey could have been hurt by a small-caliber gun, James said. The horse was hurt in the shoulder and the donkey was injured in its muzzle, he said.

"We do have an ongoing investigation on those," James said.

Both farms are near the Black Forest Village along County Roads 638 and 640.

The owner of the injured horse and donkey treated the animals without veterinary aid, James said. That made it difficult to determine whether the wounds came from a gunshot or from the animal's normal activities, he said.

The donkeys died Oct. 18 and Nov. 9. The owner of the injured animals reported the wounds Nov. 20.

Deputies have found a spot that appears to be a shooting range near grazing areas for the animals that were wounded but survived, James said. "We are trying to determine if maybe a stray bullet, from shooting at the target, accidentally hit one of the animals out in the field," he said.

Anyone with information about the investigation is asked to contact the sheriff's department through an anonymous tip line at capecountysheriff.org or by calling the department at 243-3551.

rkeller@semissourian.com

388-3642

Pertinent address:

County Road 638, Cape Girardeau, Mo.