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  • somebody's killing horses in central Florida and Lee County horse owners are worried they're animals will be next.

  • So far, it's been happening in Marion, Manatee and Sumpter counties.

  • The reports are horrifying horses slaughtered in their pastures and butchered for meat.

  • NBC two's Alex Howard found out what Lee County horse owners are doing to protect their animals.

  • Horse owners here in North Fort Myers are worried after a series of Central Florida horse killings.

  • Now they're worried they might be targeting pastures here in Lee County.

  • You better hope somebody doesn't catch you.

  • Charlie Claunch and his fiancee, Tracy, are the co owners of SETI Performance Forces, a boarding farm in North Fort Myers.

  • Despite the typical tranquility of the place, they're troubled.

  • But we have security cameras everywhere.

  • We have a live in security couple.

  • They monitor the place 24 7 tours.

  • Horse farms from around Florida are being hit by illegal horse butchers who are killing the animals for their meat.

  • You have to find him on the pastor's butcher.

  • They had a case not too long ago.

  • Out towards come Okeechobee, in a little town called Wladika Guy had 17 horses slaughtered in this past year, the thought of such a brutal death for animals they consider part of family is unthinkable.

  • I don't think they realize how much we love them.

  • I mean, they hit might have a dog, and we love them just as much as they love a dog or a cat.

  • Other Florida counties and animal advocacy groups are offering an $18,000 reward to anyone who can identify the brutal killers.

  • The sad part is the horse is still alive.

  • When they're doing it, they just sever the brain stem so the horse is alive and knows what's going on.

  • But it can't do anything it can't call out.

  • And so far no horses here in Lee County have yet been killed.

  • But owners here are keeping a close eye out.

  • As for that $18,000 reward still stands in Lee County.

somebody's killing horses in central Florida and Lee County horse owners are worried they're animals will be next.

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