Residents in an east Las Vegas neighborhood are demanding answers after a horse was found dead on the side of the road following an incident in which it was reportedly dragged behind a pickup truck.
The incident occurred on 25 June and is now the subject of an investigation by local authorities.
Video obtained by KLAS, the sister station of News 2, appears to show a two-door white pickup truck dragging a horse by a rope along a residential street at around 3:50 p.m.
Witnesses said the horse appeared distressed and struggled to remain on its feet as it was pulled behind the moving vehicle.
A short time later, neighbors discovered the animal dead on the roadside outside the home of local resident Cesar Aceves.
“It was pretty beat up. It was skinny, hooves really big. So it’s been in bad shape for a while,” Mr Aceves told KLAS.
After finding the horse, Mr Aceves said he called 911 but was transferred to animal control. He said he was informed that an officer would meet him at the scene.
According to Mr Aceves, no official arrived that evening, and the horse remained outside his home for several hours.
Eventually, a neighbor contacted a hazardous waste disposal company, which removed the animal at approximately 10:30 p.m.
Mr Aceves said an animal control officer arrived the following morning, by which time the horse had already been removed.
He added that during the seven years he has lived in the neighborhood, he had never witnessed anything similar.
“It’s pretty sickening, and it’s bad somebody’s going to treat a horse like that. And the worst part is that animal control didn’t show up until the next day. That’s my worst concern,” he said.
KLAS said it contacted Clark County Animal Protection Services seeking information about the incident but had not received a response by Monday evening.
Another resident, Pennie Buck, said she collected photographs and videos from neighbors in an effort to assist investigators.
She believes the vehicle involved was a single-cab Ford F-150 pickup, although no surveillance footage captured a readable license plate.
“Heartbreaking. I cried,” Ms Buck said. “It was horrible. Absolutely horrible to think somebody would do that to a precious baby. We’re an animal-loving community. We have horses up and down here all the time. I’ve never seen anything like that.”
Ms Buck said an officer from the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department visited the neighborhood on Monday morning, speaking with residents and gathering information as part of the investigation.
“A really nice lady showed up, and she was actually following through. She went up and down the street, knocking on doors and trying to get as much information as she could,” she said.
Authorities have not yet released additional details or announced whether any suspects have been identified.
Ms Buck also urged anyone unable to properly care for a horse to seek assistance from animal welfare organisations rather than abandoning or mistreating the animal.
Clark County advises that anyone witnessing an animal facing a life-threatening emergency, requiring urgent medical attention, or presenting a public safety risk should contact Animal Protection Services immediately.
The case has renewed attention on the importance of animal welfare, veterinary emergency services, and responsible horse ownership. Animal welfare organizations encourage owners facing financial or medical challenges to seek assistance through licensed rescue groups, veterinary care providers, and equine rehabilitation programs rather than abandoning or mistreating animals. Strengthening emergency response systems, animal cruelty investigations, and public reporting channels remains essential for protecting both animals and communities.
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