'It's surreal': Farm animals found dead with missing genitals

RCMP in Fort St. John, B.C., are investigating two separate cases of livestock found dead with their genitals missing.

Police received a report of a bull found deadwith its genitals removed on Sept.22.It's not known when the bull died but police say significant time had passed before it was reported.

On Tuesday,RCMP received a report of a male horse found dead, also missing its genitals.

"Reports of this nature are not commonplace and are taken very seriously by the RCMP," saidConst. Chad Neustaeter.

The horse's owner, Amanda Babcock, lives just across the border inSexsmith, Alta., and keeps herhorsesat her mother's place in Rose Prairie, just outside of Fort St John. She saysthe death of her 21-year-old horsenamed Kellywas shocking.

'It's surreal'

"Basically it's surreal. It just doesn't even register as something that could happen. You expect a lot of natural things to happen with your horses, but never something that is so questionable like that," Babcock told Sarah Penton, host of Radio West.

Police sayit's not known if the deaths of the horse and the bull are related. There is no indication the animalswere killed by natural predators.

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Necropsy

Kelly wasspecial to Babcock, in part because hewas born on her father's birthday. Babcock's dadpassed away when she was two.

Babcock's horse had a necropsy Thursday indicatingthe causeof death was a perforated bowel.

"They were very thorough with their autopsy ... but I still question things," she said.

The day Kellydied,Babcock's mother's fence was cut. One of Babcock's other horses was uncharacteristically upset that day, she says.

The area where Kelly was found dead was undisturbed. Typically when horses are suffering from colic or severe stomach pain associated with the bowel they roll and writhe in pain on the spot, Babcock said.

"There wasn't a mark on him other than he was missing his penis and he had a small piece of skin that was missing around it," Babcock said.

She says the community is very concerned following Kelly's death.

"Everybody's trying to keep an eye out. Everybody is very concerned for their own livestock, for their own animals."

RCMP advise animal producersin the area to check on their livestock regularly to ensure they are accounted for, and immediately report any suspicious livestock deaths.

The B.C. RCMP Livestock Section is assisting in the investigation.