Colorado pair charged with animal cruelty after horse dragged in viral video

Stock photo of a horse.

Credit: Mark Miller Photos / Stockbyte / Getty

Credit: Mark Miller Photos / Stockbyte / Getty

Stock photo of a horse.

A Colorado man and woman each face an animal cruelty charge after a shocking video of a truck dragging a horse went viral.

>> Watch KCNC-TV's news report here (WARNING: Viewer discretion advised.)

In a Tuesday news release, the 14th Judicial District Attorney's Office announced that the horse's owners, John Saldate, 59, and Amber Saldate, 33, are slated to appear in Grand County Court in January.

The Grand County Sheriff's Office began investigating the case Sunday after the video "was shared extensively on social media," the news release said.

>> Read the news release here

PRESS RELEASE FROM THE 14TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.

Posted by Grand County Sheriff's Office on Tuesday, November 26, 2019

According to the Washington Post, the original clip, which has since been deleted, shows a horse struggling in the snow while tied to a pickup truck.

"This [expletive] refuses to leave the ranch, so John's pulling him across 'cause he's being a [expletive]," a woman says as the truck begins to move, dragging the animal, the newspaper reported.

The horse, known as Trigger, "was later seized by law enforcement and is now safe," the District Attorney's Office said.

Read more here or here.

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