The reward for information leading to the capture of those responsible for butchering 19 horses in South Florida since January has topped $20,000.

Police believe the animals have been slaughtered for their meat, most likely sold on the black market. Seventeen of the animals have been killed in Miami-Dade County and two in Miramar County.

The reward was boosted on Aug. 26 during a meeting called in the town of Davie, Fla., which attracted more than 100 people to discuss ways to protect the local horse population. The mayor of Davie, Judy Paul, proposed the formation of a “Community Barn Watch” group, comprised of residents determined to stay on the lookout for suspicious activity.

Rewards currently on offer for information about the killings include $5,000 from the Humane Society of the United States, $3,000 from Miami Crime Stoppers and $1,000 from Broward Crime Stoppers. Chris Chiari, a Davie resident running for a seat in the Florida House, has also contributed $2,000.

Local media reports that further reward money is also forthcoming, and at the meeting Davie resident and developer Ron Bergeron added a $10,000 reward of his own. Dr. Robert Oller reportedly added another $2,000, and another resident pledged $100.