Someone Shot a Miniature Pet Horse in Acushnet

ACUSHNET, MA — The owner of a miniature horse named Max said someone shot the animal in Acushnet last week.

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The bullet hit the 2-year-old horse’s leg. Max will likely need his leg amputated and a prosthetic leg to survive, his owner said.

Police are investigating.

“This was an act of animal abuse,” Max’s owner, Julie Nightlinger, said in a statement. “We won’t stop until we have some justice. We also don’t want this to happen to any other horse or animal.”

Nightlinger is hoping to raise $10,000 for Max’s surgery. Nearly 200 people have donated about $5,000 so far.

“We are so grateful,” Nightlinger said.

Here’s one of the donations:

And here are more photos of Max:

• Max’s donation page