Animal control officers in Riverside County are searching for the person who shot a wild donkey with an arrow.
Authorities in the county said they received a report of an injured donkey that had an arrow lodged in the right side of its body. The animal was first spotted along Pigeon Pass Road and Quail Call Drive in Moreno Valley, according to Animal Control Officer Will Luna.
“This is very serious, this is a felony for anyone who’s doing this and it’s a shame that you’re doing this. They’re harmless,” Luna said.
According to the official, this is the third donkey that’s been shot with an arrow in the region in the last two months.
“Same thing, same area. One of those were able to get away. The arrow broke off completely and they ran into the hills,” Luna said. “… And then there was another one after that within the week with another arrow. We never found that one; that one took off, as well.”
Animal control officers were able to get the injured donkey into a fenced area while they assessed the next steps to help it. The animal’s loving herd has stayed by her side while she remains enclosed.
“We know that they get into traffic and it can be a pain in the butt sometimes but everybody loves them and to do this deliberately to them, that’s not cool at all and they will be charged if we find them,” Luna said.
Officials planned to get a trailer to transport the injured burro to SoCal Equine Hospital in Norco to get the arrow removed. From there, she may be transferred to DonkeyLand Rescue, according to Luna.