Horse Rescue Tenerife, a refuge for rescued farm animals, has offered €1,000 to anyone who can help recover five stolen sheep. This Monday, the organisation informed Atlántico Hoy that they have received false calls from individuals attempting to claim the reward for the animals.
A spokesperson for the refuge explained to this outlet that several people called to indicate a false location for the sheep and then immediately demanded the money.
The theft occurred during the night of July 4th to 5th, when Tenerife Horse Rescue suffered the theft of five old and neutered sheep from their premises. According to the spokesperson, the thieves used a construction pallet to jump over the entrance gate and passed the sheep over it. Due to the strong winds that night, no one heard the robbery.
In a statement on their social media, the refuge expressed concern that the animals could be used “in a religious sacrifice” or as food, as they are not sheep that can be bred due to their age and neutering.
The refuge is dedicated to rescuing animals that are victims of abandonment or exploitation, cared for by international volunteers who spend time working and living on the premises. These operate as a self-sustaining commune, where everyone has some work.
As the spokesperson recounted to Atlántico Hoy, Horse Rescue has filed a report of the theft with the Civil Guard and has informed the Ministry of Livestock, Agriculture, Fisheries, and Food Sovereignty of the identification number of the sheep, in case they appear on any farm. Additionally, they noted that the refuge staff have spoken with all the neighbours around the estate and ruled out the possibility that one of them was behind the theft, although they do suspect that the perpetrator was familiar with the estate, as they knew where the sheep were kept at night.
