ST. GEORGE — A horse lying dead on the side of state Route 18 in St. George garnered a great deal of attention from passing motorists Thursday morning, a situation that also spilled out onto social media sites, authorities say.
On Thursday, the St. George Communication Center began to receive calls from passersby reporting a horse lying on the shoulder of northbound SR-18 near milepost 5, just a few miles north of Bluff Street.
St. George Police Officer Tiffany Mitchell told St. George News that police and animal control officers responded to the scene, where they found a mare still wearing a halter and lying on the shoulder, with its front and back legs tied together.
The rope used to bind the legs appeared to be some type of lead rope.
One of the officers remained at the scene, parking his patrol truck in such a way as to block the view of the horse to deter motorists from taking their eyes off the road, efforts geared towards increasing traffic safety since the shoulder was located near a sharp curve in the road.
Meanwhile, animal control officers conducted an investigation into the incident to determine how the horse ended up on the side of the highway, efforts that were hampered by the fact the horse was not branded, nor could officers determine to whom the animal belonged.
A City of St. George maintenance crew also responded to the scene and the horse was loaded onto a trailer, Mitchell said. It then was transported to the county landfill and properly disposed of.
Mitchell said officers found no evidence of abuse or neglect during the investigation, adding the animal appeared to have been well cared for. And while it is not illegal to put an animal down, such as in cases of sickness, age and so on, it is, however, illegal to leave an animal on the side of the road, she added.
Mitchell also said animal control officers have been busy contacting local veterinarians to see if anyone has treated the animal, and who may have the owner’s information, efforts that were ongoing as of Thursday afternoon.
The incident also created a great deal of traffic on social media, Mitchell said, which is common when it comes to incidents involving animals.
The investigation into the incident is ongoing at this time, she said, adding that anyone with information that can assist in identifying the animal’s owner can call the St. George Animal Shelter at 435-627-4350.
This report is based on statements from police, emergency personnel or other responders and may not contain the full scope of findings.
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