FLAGLER COUNTY, Fla. – A 23-year-old Flagler County man is charged with aggravated animal abuse after deputies said he shot four cows and two steers that wandered through a fence onto his property.
Justin DeLoach was arrested last month. He told deputies the cows broke through the fence and ate all his horse feed, according to a police report. He said it's been happening for years.
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The owner of the cattle saw DeLoach shooting them, according to the police report. DeLoach told deputies he was unable to chase the cows off his property, so he got his shotgun and fired birdshot into the air to scare them, according to the report.
None of the cows or steers died, but some have severe buckshot wounds.
The owner of the cattle said the gunshot wounds will drastically affect the worth of meat on those cows at slaughter. The owner said the cows would need to be treated with antibiotics, which will delay the time of slaughter.