The reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for a series of horse poaching incidents in Florida rose to $20,000 today when Crime Stoppers of Miami-Dade County Inc. increased its reward offer to $15,000. The Humane Society of the United States is also offering a separate $5,000 reward for information critical to the case through the South Florida Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

Miami-Dade County Police are currently investigating 17 cases involving horses stolen and apparently butchered for their meat. Similar incidents are under investigation by police in nearby Miramar, where two horses were found butchered in their pasture, and in Miami Gardens, where a horse was found dead and mutilated in its paddock last week.

Anyone with information about the incidents should call Crime Stoppers at 305/471-8477 or 866/471-8477 or visit crimestoppersmiami.com. Calls are confidential