Newly released, unedited police body camera footage has surfaced, offering additional context surrounding the euthanasia of four severely emaciated horses on a ranch in Merced County, California, in March 2025. The footage, obtained by YourCentralValley, presents a more detailed account than an initial edited two-minute clip that circulated widely and drew significant public criticism.
The original footage showed cowboys allegedly shooting four horses on an Atwater property. Critics expressed outrage, with many commenting that the horses appeared to suffer unnecessarily during the process, with one reportedly remaining alive for up to 40 minutes after being shot, and another requiring multiple shots.
The expanded 42-minute recording begins shortly after animal control officers arrived at the property owned by horse trader Don Gatz. While the full video still documents the euthanasia of the four horses in poor condition, it also includes conversations and observations that offer a more nuanced perspective.
According to discussions captured on camera, the horses were suffering from various ailments. One was believed to have cancer, another had a jaw abscess, and a third was suffering from severe starvation. Investigators were also reportedly unsure whether all the horses belonged to Gatz, as people sometimes leave unwanted horses at his property instead of arranging for their own euthanasia. Gatz himself stated that he does not brand horses, explaining that his cattle are branded with a horseshoe symbol, while at least one of the horses bore a "30" brand.
The bodycam footage also reveals plans for follow-up inspections. Officers were seen discussing plans to monitor the remaining animals and a plan for one officer to revisit the property within a week to ensure a farrier had addressed an overgrown hoof on one horse.
Merced County Animal Control had not publicly responded to inquiries regarding the delay in confirming the horses' deaths or whether the case remains under investigation at the time of the report by YourCentralValley.