The Merced County Sheriff's Office is investigating a video that appears to show four horses being shot and killed on a ranch in Atwater, California. The footage, captured by bodycam in March 2025, has drawn outrage from animal welfare advocates.
The incident occurred at the ranch of Don Gatz, a horse trader with prior animal cruelty accusations. Merced County Animal Control Officers were responding to reports of five emaciated horses when a veterinarian on site reportedly advised that four of them be euthanized by gunshot.
Bodycam footage shared by the animal welfare organization Animals’ Angels USA captures the veterinarian stating, “We can drop them over there and boom, boom boom.” The video also reveals the horses exhibiting reflexes for several minutes after being shot, with one officer noting, “This one… still has a heartbeat” more than 25 minutes after the shooting. Another horse reportedly showed reflexes 40 minutes after being shot.
One of Gatz's workers admitted to firing five to six bullets into a single horse. Officials reportedly waited over 25 minutes to confirm the horses' deaths, a delay that is now part of the sheriff's office review. Veterinary professionals and Animal Services staff were present during the incident.
The sheriff's office stated it is "reviewing the circumstances surrounding the incident, including applicable best practices, ethical considerations, and accepted industry standards." Gatz has a history of animal welfare issues; in 2011, he was sentenced to 60 days and fined $14,000 after 15 of 30 horses on his property required immediate euthanasia due to Strangles infection.