Marion County Animal Control is investigating after two cows were shot and killed in a pasture.
Fletcher Estes with Marion County Animal Control says the incident happened at a farm on Smith Millpond Road off of Highway 501. He says it appears that someone drove up to the pasture where about 75 cows were and shot one of the cows at close range with a shotgun.
One cow was pregnant at the time and the calf also died, according to Estes.
Don Atkinson, the farmer who owns the cows says a second cow was also shot and died after lying in the pasture for a while. This cow is also pregnant.
Atkinson owns nine pastures with Pure Breed Angus cows. “I traveled all the way to Missouri for these cattle, I’ve got nine pastures in this county, 300 head of cows, I’m tickled I only found two, if they were out there doing that they could have rode by some other pastures,“ said Atkinson.
The Marion County Sheriff’s Office is assisting with the investigation.
“There is no explanation for someone to do something like this.“ Atkinson said, “This is just cruel and inhumane,“
Anyone with information about this case is asked to call Marion County Animal Control at (843) 423-8370.
