LIHU'E, Kaua'i — Three adult sheep, two of them pregnant, were brutally beaten and stabbed to death Saturday night in an 'Oma'o pasture and left there.

"I have had sheep killed by stray dogs and wild pigs, but never a senseless cruel act like this," said Daryl Kaneshiro, owner of the sheep farm and a member of the Kaua'i County Council.

Kaneshiro's farm and the Kaua'i Humane Society are offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to the conviction of people involved in the case.

Kaneshiro said he had checked on the animals Saturday and they appeared skittish, as if they had been chased. When he checked again Sunday, he found a Mouflon ram and two pregnant ewes dead. They had broken bones and bruises from having been beaten, and had multiple knife wounds.

Humane society director Dr. Becky Rhoades said the act of violence to the animals is particularly disturbing and could be a precursor to other aggressive acts by the perpetrators.

"Their violence may escalate towards people, and we need to do what we can to identify them and prevent further violence," she said.

Anyone with information can call the humane society at 632-0610.