3 Burros Saved Amid Deadly Dog Attacks In RivCo's 'Triangle Of Death'

BANNING, CA —Three wild burros are safe while many more remain under attack in the "Triangle of Death" near Moreno Valley and Riverside, the Riverside County Department of Animal Services confirmed.

Born in the midst of tragedy, a mother burro and two twin burros were brought to the Donkeyland sanctuary to live out their lives in peace, escaping the dangers of those hillsides where wild dog attacks have claimed the lives of over 15 burros this year.

On Monday, animal services allowed Donekyland to rescue the mother, a free-roaming burro named Flower, and her newborn twin foals named Bambi and Birdie.

"We rushed out and created a safe space for this little family to rest and recover for a few days until they are strong enough to move into our sanctuary," they said.

Other burros have not been so lucky.

Dogs, likely trained for aggression, are thought to be responsible for the recent burro attacks resulting in brutal and often fatal injuries to the wild burros that live in that area.

Commander Lesley Huennekens shared her thoughts on what they have learned to the Board of Supervisors in Tuesday's meeting.

"It's domestic dogs," Huennekens said. "Being in this career as long as I have, I've seen a lot. Dogs will get hold of the front of the (donkey), and other dogs will grab the hind quarters. It doesn't take a whole lot of force to do the kind of damage that we're seeing."

She was asked to speak on the matter by board Chair Karen Spiegel after she'd seen reports on Monday night's community meeting hosted by the Riverside-based nonprofit DonkeyLand, which drew dozens of people to Sandals Church in Riverside, where speakers expressed outrage over the severe maltreatment of the burros.

Nearly two dozen attacks have been documented since last fall. In multiple instances, burros' ears and tails were ripped to shreds; in other cases, their genitalia and other body parts were mangled. Most of the injured donkeys have been euthanized due to the extreme nature of the wounds.

"If the perpetrators are caught, can they be prosecuted?" Spiegel asked during the meeting.

The suspects could be arrested for felony animal abuse if it can be proven that "they're bringing dogs into the area and using them to attack the donkeys."

The mere act of permitting canines to roam unleashed in the burros' habitat could result in misdemeanor citations, according to Huennekens.

"Nobody has come forward to tell us anything (regarding suspects' identities)," she said.

DonkeyLand has reported a total of 21 wild burros have been attacked this year, with 13 of those attacks in the last 10 weeks.

"Of the 21, only four have been successfully treated and saved," Donkeyland reported over social media.

In addition to the violent and deadly dog attacks, six donkeys have been shot with arrows at the hands of a human.

Burros abuse, the singling out of wild burros for live target practice, has occurred repeatedly over the past two decades, frequently with no arrests.

Donkeyland remains committed to catching the culprits, offering a $50,000 community reward to stop what the nonprofit calls "a serial killer."

The burros number in the hundreds and congregate throughout Reche Canyon between Moreno Valley and Redlands, as well as everywhere around Box Springs Mountain in Moreno Valley and Riverside, freely wandering municipal streets.

Chad Cheatham, vice president of DonkeyLand, said during Monday night's meeting that he was shocked to discover the "whole industry of trainers (using) dogs as bite protection dogs."

"To our wild burro donors, our incredible community, every single guest who showed up, the media, the dedicated law enforcement from multiple jurisdictions, the authorities across all eight jurisdictions, and the unwavering DL volunteers—thank you. Your compassion, time, and commitment mean more than words can express. It is because of each of you that this movement continues to grow stronger," they said after a recent meeting at Sandals Church.

The $50,000 reward will go to anyone who provides authorities with information leading to the arrest and successful prosecution of the party or parties responsible for the attacks.

More information is available at www.donkeyland.org.

Anyone who may be able to help with the investigation was urged to call the Department of Animal Services at 951-358-7387, or the Riverside County Sheriff's Department at 951-776-1099.