HIALEAH, Fla. -- Another horse was found mutilated in South Florida, her baby next to her trying to nurse off the mother, according to the S.P.C.A.

Bonita, a pretty 10-year-old quarter horse, was found by a caretaker Sunday morning at a farm in northwest Miami-Dade County. Investigators believe the mutilated mare's neck was slit and the killers let the horse bleed out.

A foal, still alive, was found next to its mother's body.

“Next to the carcass was the baby -- which I think was about 4 months old -- actually trying to nurse off the mother, the dead carcass. It just adds to the abuse in this story and it is sad," S.P.C.A. investigator Richard Couto told Local 10.

Detectives said it appeared all the edible meat had been taken out of the dead animal. There were signs that she had been butchered alive.

“The mother did not die instantly after being on the ground. I am sure she was conscious while they were cutting meat off the body," Couto said.

Seven horses have been found slaughtered in the last month in Broward and Miami-Dade counties. From January 11 to July 27, 17 horses have been found killed in South Florida.

Detectives believe the killers may be harvesting the meat and selling it on the black market for between $20 and $40 per pound. And they are concerned that these killers are getting more brazen.

The S.P.C.A has issued a warning that the meat, which is coming from pet horses, is toxic.