4 Horses Are Dead. Demand Accountability.
“We can just drop them over there and boom, boom, boom..."
Warning: This video is graphic.
On March 28, 2025, four horses were shot on the property of California horse trader Don Gatz while Merced County Animal Control officers stood by.
According to statements captured on body camera footage later obtained by Animals' Angels, one horse survived for more than 40 minutes after being shot and another reportedly required six gunshots before finally dying.
The footage also shows body cameras being muted and turned off during portions of the incident.
Help us demand accountability from the Merced County Sheriff's Office. Add your name and call for a full and independent investigation.
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Read the Petition Letter
Petition to Sheriff Vernon H. Warnke and the Merced County Sheriff's Office
Sheriff Vernon H. Warnke and the Merced County Sheriff's Office:
The public deserves answers about what happened to four horses on March 28, 2025 at Don Gatz's property in Atwater, California.
Body camera footage obtained by Animals' Angels documents the deaths of four horses and leaves critical questions unanswered about the actions of the responding Animal Control officers, the handling of the euthanasia process, and the circumstances that led to these horses being found on the property.
We urge your offices to conduct a full and independent review of this incident and publicly disclose your findings.
Specifically, we ask that you:
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Determine why the Animal Control officers failed to ensure that the euthanasia of the horses was carried out accurately.
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Determine why portions of the incident were not documented in the released recordings.Conduct a thorough investigation into the circumstances that led to these horses being found in such poor condition.
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Determine whether neglect or cruelty violations occurred and whether further enforcement action is warranted.
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Publicly disclose the findings of these investigations.
The body camera footage released to Animals' Angels documents the deaths of four horses. It also leaves critical questions unanswered.
The public deserves a full accounting of what happened that day and confidence that every reasonable step has been taken to investigate both the treatment of these horses and the actions of those responsible for protecting them.
We respectfully urge the Merced County Sheriff's Office to take immediate action and ensure that this incident receives the thorough and transparent review it deserves.
Sincerely,
Your Name Here
Supporters
Animals’ Angels is a team of animal welfare investigators, working to expose cruelty and demand accountability in slaughterhouses, auctions, and feedlots across the United States. Support the team working to dismantle systems of animal abuse by making a tax-deductible donation today.
