DEBARY (AP) — A Volusia County sheriff’s office report says four chickens used as therapy for an autistic boy were killed just days after the family received a reprieve from the city.

Ashleigh Hart told The Daytona Beach News-Journal the heads of the chickens were cut clean off Saturday in DeBary. Her son, 2-year-old J.J., would open up and talk when the chickens were with him. The family was cited because the chickens were not allowed under city codes, but they had recently received a 60-day reprieve from the city’s code enforcement board delaying the potential $100-per-day fine.

Hart says she had no problems with neighbors and doesn’t know who could have attacked the animals. A deputy’s report says most of the chicken heads were not found.