Investigators find owner of ponies that were killed

Investigators looking into the shooting deaths of two ponies off a North Bend trail have identified the animals' owner, and volunteers Sunday removed the bodies for disposal, an animal rights group reported.

Hikers discovered the animals Friday on private property near Tokul Road, said Susan Michaels, co-founder of Pasado's Safe Haven. The group offered a $5,000 reward for information in the case.

By Saturday night, she said, tips led to the person's identity, a middle-aged person who lives in the area. The person apparently told investigators that friends would euthanize the animals.

But Michaels said that claim needs to be confirmed and could be part of the "blame game" in how the animals, believed to be about 17 years old, died. One was face down in a ditch.

For about four hours starting Sunday morning, volunteers used a truck and winch to remove the ponies, which weigh hundreds of pounds each.

It appears that the animals were each shot in the head, Michaels said.

Under state law, she believes that could constitute a humane death, which is not a crime. But the investigation by King County animal control officers and sheriff's deputies continues.

A person who brings unnecessary pain or death to an animal can be fined up to $10,000 and serve five years in prison. Charges, she said, could be brought for the firing of a gun in public and dumping animals on private property.

Michaels said the animals' owner should take responsibility for them -- all the way through to their deaths.

"They were not present to help dozens of people drag those animals out of the brush," Michaels said. "They let others do their dirty work for them. This can't be allowed to happen again."

A veterinarian contacted the animal rights group Friday to say she heard that a couple were seen in the area with two trucks, and possibly a trailer, on Wednesday, Michaels said. They reportedly were backing the vehicles up to the trail.

Michaels' organization is trying to find the property owner to help with filing charges. Her group offered the $5,000 reward for information leading to a conviction.

Four people gave credible tips, she said. Two of them were not interested in the money.

If the person who dumped the horses on the private property is not prosecuted, she said, it would send a bad message.

"That would give people the license to dump whatever they don't want, including living beings," Michaels said.