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Police seeking info after 20 horses found dead in rural Kentucky in recent weeks

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FLOYD COUNTY, Ky. — An animal rescue in rural Kentucky said Sunday that six horses in the area had died — including a yearling and a mare that may have been pregnant — bringing the total number of horses found dead in recent weeks to 20.

The Dumas Rescue in Garrett, Kentucky, said on Facebook Sunday that six horses were found dead in the area of a nearby abandoned strip mine. They say the horses showed signs of "apparent struggle."

Kevin Shephard of the Floyd County Sheriff's Office previously said that a family found about a dozen dead horses near the strip mine. Several of the horses killed were pregnant, and at least five belonged to the family that found them.

"Every time I spoke with them, they've cried. They're more than a pet to them, you know, it's something they've raised. Every horse to the owners had names. I mean, they can name off every horse in every photograph I've shown them," Shephard said.

The Dumas Rescue says there is currently a $20,000 reward for information that leads to the arrest of those responsible for killing the horses.

For more information about the horses, click here. WARNING: The link includes photographs that some may find graphic.

This story was originally published by Kylen Mills on WLEX in Lexington, Kentucky.