California Couple ‘Can’t Comprehend’ Why Their Pair of Miniature Ponies Were Shot to Death

“They were my therapy after my injury,” owner Fernando Ibarra, who was left paralyzed after being hit by a drunk driver, said

A Southern California couple is asking for the public’s help after discovering that two of their miniature ponies were shot to death on their property.

Fernando Ibarra, 53, spoke to Los Angeles’ KTLA 5 about the incident in an article published on Thursday, May 2. He believes that sharing their story could lead to answers related to the crime.

“They would literally just follow me all day,” Ibarra said of his two miniature ponies, Brownie and Trigger. “I had apples, I had carrots for them all the time.”

He and his wife live in Riverside County. Their family’s ranch is located in the foothills of the San Jacinto Mountains in Reche Canyon. This is also where their beloved pets used to call home.

Ibarra told the outlet that he found Trigger lying in a pool of blood on Monday, April 29. Just one day later, Brownie suffered the same fate when he was discovered lying in a dry creek bed.

Related: Dolphin Found Shot Dead on La. Beach, Authorities Offer $20K Reward for Information Leading to Conviction

The owner said both of his animals had gunshot wounds.

“We did look for casings by the gate because if whoever did this and if they do shoot him, they were shot by the gate,” Ibarra said.

He told KTLA that he had Brownie and Trigger for around five years before the fatal crime.

Initially, the animals were for his grandson, but Ibarra was the one who formed an unbreakable bond with the pair.

“They were my therapy after my injury,” he said, explaining that a 2008 collision with a drunk driver left him paralyzed from the chest down.

Related: Kristi Noem Doubles Down on Killing Her ‘Less than Worthless’ Hunting Puppy: ‘I Decided What I Did’

“They were like two dogs. You show up to the property and that was the first thing — they’re at the gate waiting for you,” Ibarra continued.

Trying to figure out why anyone would come to their home and kill two innocent animals caused him to become emotional.

“Why? I can’t understand it,” Ibarra said tearfully during the interview. “I can’t comprehend it. My question is, ‘Why do it?’ ”

Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for PEOPLE's free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases.

“Me and my wife have spoken about it and I think it was just a thrill,” Ibarra added. “A thrill coming out here and shooting an animal.”

The case has been turned over to authorities and is now under investigation by the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department.

Anyone with information on the incident is asked to call the sheriff’s department at 1-800-950-2444 or the Riverside County Department of Animal Services at 951-358-7387.

For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter!

Read the original article on People.