SHAWNEE, Kan. — Shawnee police euthanized a horse loose in a field behind the police department and fire station Oct. 7. According to a police report, a police officer fired a single shot with a Remington 700 .308 cal rifle, striking the horse in the head.
The incident began seven hours earlier when the gray mare named Lacy escaped through an open gate at the small farm where she lived with two other horses, including a miniature, who also got loose.
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Jenny Haynes said her family has kept horses for more than 60 years at the small family farm at Johnson Drive and Maurer Road in Shawnee, Kansas. Haynes said she bought Lacy at auction about 8 months ago, explaining she reminded her of her childhood horse.
“The last 3 months she’s been out with Buck and Missy grazing, no problems; she never tried to get out. Somehow the gate got open,” Haynes said.
She and officers were able to get the other two horses home, but she said Lacy got spooked by the officers with flashing lights.
“She was just a good natured little horse, but she was shy and could be scared easy from strangers,” Haynes said.
According to Shawnee Public Safety Information Office Emily Rittman, the horse was reportedly a partially wild mustang that had never been halter trained. Eventually the horse made it nearly a mile down Johnson Drive to Renner Road near the police and fire station.
“She was in a big field; she wasn’t in the street; she wasn’t a threat,” Haynes said.
According to the police statement, a ranch hand who specializes in large-animal captures in populated areas throughout Kansas was called in. A horse trailer was standing by. Haynes hoped the horse could be penned in. Haynes said she thought the plan was to tranquilize.
Instead, after considering practical and safety concerns, police decided to euthanize.
“Veterinary resources were consulted regarding the possibility of tranquilizing the horse. However, after considering the practical and safety concerns, this option was determined not to be feasible under the circumstances,” Rittman said.
“They said, ‘we’ve decided we are going to have to shoot her because she’s a danger to the public,’ and I said you don’t have a right to shoot my horse; she’s my pet, and she’s not dangerous,” Haynes cried.
The city provided Haynes a copy of the city’s dangerous animals ordinances Monday. In the statement provided to FOX4, the City of Shawnee provided more details explaining why the horse posed a safety risk when it was shot and killed in the field outside the police department.
“Throughout the incident, the horse posed an ongoing risk to public safety due to its proximity to several major roadways, including Renner Road, Johnson Drive, I-435 and Maurer Road. Officers observed the horse cross lanes of traffic multiple times, forcing motorists to take evasive action to avoid collisions. Given the horse’s size and the speed and volume of traffic on these roadways, a collision could have resulted in serious injury or death. After more than seven hours of unsuccessful capture attempts and consultation with large-animal experts, an officer euthanized the horse to address the ongoing risk to public safety. The decision was made after careful consideration of the available options and in accordance with department policy and Shawnee Municipal Code,” the statement said.
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“She would never hurt anybody I promise you, she was just a little scared horse, and darn they didn’t have to shoot her because of that,” Haynes cried while reading a police report she said contained several errors, including a categorization of the horse as six-feet tall, when she said it was closer to five.
“The Shawnee Police Department made extensive efforts to safely capture the horse and is sympathetic to the difficult circumstances. The decision to euthanize the horse was made only after extensive discussion and consideration of available options in consultation with large-animal experts,” the police department’s statement said.
