South Dakota: Authorities looking for leads in horse killing near Mitchell

SOUTH DAKOTA -- Davison County authorities are still looking for leads in the death of a horse that was shot to death this week.

Davison County Sheriff Steve Brink tells the Mitchell Republic the horse's owner discovered the animal in his field Tuesday morning.

Brink says the horse was valued between $3,500 and $4,000.

Horse killings are rare, but Brink says he has seen cases in his 20-year career.

Killing an animal owned as property is a misdemeanor in South Dakota, but animal cruelty can be prosecuted as a felony.

(Greenfield Reporter - Feb 25, 2015)