I've been following this story and hoping that the horse would be ok.

January 16, 2010

Picaro in his stall before his surgery. © Andy Cunningham, Tufts University


The stallion shot three times at the scene of an apparent murder suicide earlier this week in Massachusetts is recovering following surgery.
Picaro, a grey 22-year-old Paso Fino stallion, was shot three times in the head and underwent emergency surgery on Friday afternoon to manage bone and soft-tissue injuries.

Dr Carl Kirker-Head, associate professor of surgery at the Cummings School's Hospital for Large Animals at Tufts University's, surgically removed Picaro's eye and multiple bone fragments caused by the three gunshot wounds. The procedure took more than three hours.

Picaro was brought from Spencer, Massachusetts, to the hospital in Grafton by Carol Gaucher of Spencer Animal Control. He was able to walk in to the hospital.

Visitors are not yet allowed to see Picaro, given the critical nature of his wounds.

Donations have been made by members of the Cummings School community and area residents, who have also offered support and adoptive homes for Picaro.

Authorities are continuing their inquiries into the circumstances around the fatal shootings of Michael S. Khoury, 69, and his wife, Joyce M. Khoury, 66.

Mrs Khoury was found dead in a bedroom of their Spencer home and Mr Khoury was found in the doorway. He was taken to hospital but was declared dead soon after.

The shootings unfolded just hours before the couple's home was to be auctioned in a foreclosure sale.

Mr Khoury, who is believed by authorities to be behind the shootings, is also thought to be responsible for setting the house and a pickup truck alight.