“I would be first in line to pick up this stunning mare, how anyone could just abandon her is beyond my comprehension; there is no & never will be, a good enough excuse for this cruel crime, whilst animal organisation exist to help!. But a former race horse that costs thousands, then doesn’t race well, is more than often sent to slaughter or abandoned! I hope they find whomever she belonged to; then proceed with criminal charges! Then I hope Defense Team gets a forever home & is loved for the rest of her life!!!”
MIAMI, FL (February 17, 2014)
Defense Team, a Thoroughbred gelding, was rescued today by South Florida SPCA. Laurie Waggoner, SFSPCA director of ranch operations, received a mid-morning call from a Hialeah farmer who reported the former racehorse wandering along a road near one of his pastures, and that he looked “really bad…really skinny.” Waggoner and members of the Hialeah police department found the horse ambling roadside, eating grass.
“His body condition score is a 1,” said Waggoner, referring to the lowest score on the Henneke System of Body Condition Scoring (view chart.) Fortunately, Defense Team does not appear to be lame or have any other major issues or injuries. He will receive routine vaccinations and a Coggins test, along with farrier attention to his hooves which appear to have been neglected for some time.
The horse’s tattoo number matched that of Defense Team, and SFSPCA learned he was foaled in Florida on April 6, 1999. He was purchased in Ocala, FL for $6,000, and raced only once at Calder on December 28, 2001 where he finished 11 out of a field of 12. (View pedigree.)
I will never comprehend why humans can throw animals out like trash; or just abandon them….heartbreaking!!!
Waggoner noted Defense Team seemed very happy to be found, loaded easily on her trailer and was welcomed to the SFSPCA ranch in Homestead with a nice, safe stall and a tasty flake of hay.
If you’d like to donate toward the care of Defense Team, please visitwww.spca-sofla.org/donate/donate-nowand indicate that it is for Defense Team at checkout.
Report horses or other large livestock animals that appear to be abandoned, abused or neglected. Call 911 for emergencies, or 305-4-POLICE (Miami-Dade, FL) for non-emergencies.
“As a life-long horse owner, I am so against this industry. No horse should be made to work up to 9 hours a day, dodging traffic, breathing in toxic fumes all day; with only 5 weeks a year at pasture…my comments are next to paragraphs I disagree with! Please sign the petitions & watch the videos at the end of this news post!”
While a high-profile ordinance that would ban the use of horse-drawn carriages in New York City has not yet reached the city council, the proposed legislation has drawn criticism from carriage operators as well as from a veterinarian who believes such a ban is not necessarily in the horses’ best interest.
Horse carriage owners and operators oppose such legislation on grounds that their industry is already heavily regulated, and their horses are well-protected under a current law. Photo: John Manuel/Wikimedia Commons
Last year, Allie Feldman, executive director of New Yorkers for Clean, Livable, and Safe Streets (NYCLASS), called for a citywide ban on horse-drawn carriages on grounds that the carriages were inhumane. At that time, she said 16 members of the New York City council would support an ordinance that would replace horse-drawn cabs with electric vintage replica cars. In January, newly-elected New York City Mayor Bill DeBlasio said he would back any legislation that would ban the operation of horse-drawn carriages in the city. However, Feldman said that, so far, no legislation has reached the members of the New York City council.
“We haven’t introduced a bill and we haven’t even named a sponsor yet,” said Feldman.
Meanwhile, horse carriage owners and operators oppose such legislation on grounds that their industry is already heavily regulated, and their horses are well-protected under a current law. Stephen Malone, spokesman for the Horse and Carriage Association of New York and a 30-year owner/operator of horse-drawn carriages in the city, said an ordinance passed in 2010 gives carriage horses at least five weeks of vacation each year, bigger stalls, and quality veterinary and farrier care. “Whoopy fxxxxxg do…5 weeks of vacation a year, still isn’t sufficient!!
“This industry is regulated enough,” Malone said.
At the same time, Malone said the proposed ordinance would force him to relinquish his horses in order to make sure the animals never work again.
“These horses are not just business assets to me, they are my business partners,” Malone said. “They are not business partners, they are slaves that are over worked; nose to exhaust pipe up to 9 hours a day!!”
The lack of work is just one reason why veterinarian Sarah Ralston, VMD, PhD, Dipl. ACVN, a professor in the Rutgers University Department of Animal Sciences, opposes legislation that would take these horses from their owners and force them into permanent retirement on yet unspecified farms.
Ralston said regular work and a set routine helps to keeps horses healthy and enhances the animals’ quality of life. “Sorry, did she really say ‘ enhances the animals’ quality of life’?? What utter bxxxxxxt! Making a horse walk on concrete, nose to exhaust pipe, dodging traffic, up to 9 hours a day; could cause severe leg & hoof damage which would give no horse a decent quality of life!”
“The carriage horses, on the whole, are showing no signs of distress or unwillingness to work when asked to do so,” asserted Ralston. “They are well adapted to their environment. If they weren’t, they would not last long on the streets.” ” Well I would bet if they had a say in the matter, horses wouldn’t want to be on the streets. It’s not a willingness to work, they don’t have much say in the matter; they are forced to work!”
More importantly, Ralston said, such legislation sets a dangerous precedent for horses as well as for the humans who look after them.
“If a horse is in its stall without access to pasture, but is getting quality basic care and regular exercise, should we say that this horse is being abused, or is it cruel to ask a horse to do a job that it is well-trained for and capable of doing without distress?” Ralston said. “No it’s not cruel to keep a horse in it’s stall, my horse is in over winter, as are most, to let the pastures rest!.But she goes on the walker twice a day & goes in the working arena twice a day; to let off steam & have a roll around with the other horses; so that isn’t cruel! But I do think it is cruel to make a horse work on concrete for up to 9 hours, surrounded by noise, fumes & dodging traffic; which I would say as a horse owner, would cause some amount of stress!!”
“This is the norm for a majority of the horses kept in urban and suburban settings, and this (kind of legislation) sends a terrible precedent that should have the entire horse industry up in arms.” “Sorry but horses are flight animals that could react in a second to a certain noise, which would put all parties in danger…I can’t believe a vet would say a horse wouldn’t be in distress…surrounded by loud noises & traffic…glad she’s not my horses vet!!”
Meanwhile, Feldman declined to comment on whether NYCLASS will talk with horse-drawn carriage operators and others about what the proposed ordinance should contain.
“All I can say is that we intend to make sure our ordinance is fair and equitable to all parties,” Feldman said.
While New York City’s proposed ordinance is being prepared, lawmakers in Philadelphia, Pa.; Salt Lake City, Utah; and Chicago, Ill., are re-examining their own rules governing horse-drawn carriages.
In Philadelphia, Mark McDonald, press secretary to Mayor Michael Nutter, said the city has no current plans to ban horse carriages there. Instead, a working group is reviewing regulations already on the city’s books.
“The (working group) will focus on licensing and enforcement of our (regulations) regarding carriage horses and the stables that house them,” he said.
In Salt Lake City, City Council Chairman Charlie Luke said council members voted to support an amendment to the city’s existing ordinance on Feb. 4. In part, the amendment regulates the ages of carriage horses, authorizes random drug testing of drivers, and requires carriage companies to educate the public about the carriage trade and how carriage horses are cared for. Luke also said the ordinance puts under contract the company that provides horse-drawn carriages in Salt Lake City.
“The contract gives us more leverage to regulate the industry,” Luke said.
Finally in Chicago, Donal Quinlan, press secretary to Ald. Ed Burke, said Burke introduced legislation on Feb. 5 that would cease the city’s issue of new horse-drawn carriage licenses until all such licenses have expired. That ordinance, which is backed by Mayor Rham Emanuel, remains pending in the Chicago city council.
Most animal charities & the public want to see a ban worldwide of wild animals being used in circuses. Now the owner of this circus is circulating his own petition to keep his Malta circus open. So please if you don’t agree with animals performing degrading tricks, kept behind bars & of course the cruelty that has been documented in circuses: PLEASE SIGN THE PETITIONS BELOW. We can’t let this circus continue, if it does through its petition, the flood gates for circuses using wild animals may open again; that would be tragic after all the hard work has been done to stop them!!
Circus promoter says 2013 could be last year for animal circuses in Malta due to the proposed ban.
But circus promoter Silvio Zammit has collected 5,000 signatures as part of a petition to overturn a proposal to ban animal circuses.
The circus has now moved to Ghajnsielem, Gozo, where Zammit hopes to continue collecting more signatures. The petition will then be passed on to the competent authorities.
Zammit, who has been bringing circuses to Malta for the past 16 years, said he could not allow the banning of animal circuses from Malta without taking any action.
“It was a personal initiative after finding out that the government had moved on to publish a White Paper proposing to ban animal circuses,” he said.
See all the animals, such as, Long horn cattle, Donkeys, Lama, Camels, Lions, Tigers, Zebra, Elephant, Giraffe, Baboon, Horses, Ponies, Donkeys performing pitiful & degrading acts; acts they would never do in the wild. The animal acts stop at 12 mins; then the human artists perform!I believe the only thing not seen is the Hippo; but is in a video below!!
He argued that only 390 persons took part in the consultation process initiated by the government, of which 49% said they were against such a circus.
“We know that the majority of these were NGOs, and NGOs do not reflect popular opinion. I am doing this petition on my own. I know that there are many others who would like to sign it, but I have neither the time nor the manpower to go on a nation-wide petition,” Zammit said.
He said he was “very happy” with the number of signatures collected: “This shows that the Maltese do love the circus. They won’t flood the streets of Valletta with placards to support the circus.”
He also said that a number of MPs from both sides of the House visited Circo Orfei this winter.“Some came with their children while others accompanied their grandchildren. They thanked me for the level of the show and all said they had fun,” Zammit said.
He however refused to name them.
The debate as to whether Malta should ban animal circuses for good has been going on for a number of years, with animal rights NGOs insisting that circuses solely operate to maximise profits while completely disregarding the safety of the animals and the adverse effects they may impose.
Animal Rights Coalition said veterinarians only attend to the animal’s physical needs and as a result, the psychological issues brought about by the circuses are not being addressed.
With a number of countries moving to ban animal circuses for good, Zammit said in Italy alone there were 800 circuses. He said the UK was one of the countries which will stop animal circuses as from next year. “But this was the result of many circuses caught mistreating their animals,” he said, adding that the circus he brought to Malta did not see animals performing any tricks and only a minimal part of the show was dedicated to animals.
Zammit argued that the circus animals were born in captivity “and therefore they do not know otherwise. Their trainers threat them like their pets”.
He said Animal Welfare Department officials and veterinarians made regular checks to verify that the animals were well-kept.
Circo Orfei’s travelling team is made up of 60 people, whose living depends on the shows, Zammit said.
“This is their life. They are a community who live on the road and have been doing so for years on end. This is how they earn a living… their bread and butter,” he said.
The Animal Rights Coalition has also called for a full ban on dolphinaria and aquaria. The coalition has said it was unjust to deny dolphins the right to roam free in their natural habitat and called for the ban on dolphinariums as these restrict the creatures to a mere pool.
The Coalition also said that this should extend to aquaria as in this case, animals are likewise being “confined to cages and restricted from roaming in their natural habitat”.
But Zammit feels that two weights and two measures were being applied when talking about animal circuses and aquaria.
He also said that circuses gave people the opportunity to see animals which would otherwise require them to travel abroad to zoos or safaris.
He insisted that a proper discussion was required and said he agreed that animals like elephants, pandas and monkeys should be banned. “What we have in our circus are horses, ponies, donkeys and tigers,” he said, adding that tigers in captivity lived for an average of 25 years while those in the wild lived for 12 years.
Circo Orfei also has a hippo and an emu as part of their travelling repertoire.
Published on 7 Jan 2013 – This video shows the hippo in the ring, but its towards the end of the video, after the trapeze act! What the hell is a hippo doing in a circus? Bloody outrageous!! Search CircoOrfei on You Tube to see all the animals when not entertaining :-http://youtu.be/GEMx3YVIRmg
Published on 6 Sep 2013 – This is about the lions & tigers in the outside enclosure plus RARE WHITE LIONS & TIGERS?? Are they interbreeding??:-http://youtu.be/K40RjOFsX4c
“PLEASE NOTE – GRAPHIC IMAGES OF HORSE TRAILER ACCIDENTS – AT THE END OF THIS POST. Do not scroll down the post if you do not want to see them! They are just one of many reasons why these companion animals should not be slaughtered for human consumption; would you think it ok to send your family pet dog to slaughter? Horses were not put on Gods green earth for humans to eat, they are our pets; just as much as cats & dogs are!”
“It is pure greed, FFS we slaughter enough animals to satisfy the human hunger for meat. Nobody is going to starve, horses are not part of a normal persons diet. I am totally sickened & disgusted that this heinous act, the killing of Gods noble most beautiful creatures; is once more going to be in action!! I can only hope & pray that those who want to eat any part of a horse, after all the health scares etc. suffer a miserable & painful existence!! PLEASE sign the petitions”
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – A New Mexico meat plant received federal approval on Friday to slaughter horses for meat, a move that drew immediate opposition from animal rights group and will likely be opposed by the White House.
The U.S. Agriculture Department said it was required by law to issue a “grant of inspection” to Valley Meat Co, Roswell, New Mexico, because it had met all federal requirements. Now, the USDA is obliged to assign meat inspectors to the plant.
The USDA also said it may soon issue similar grants for plants in Missouri and Iowa.
NO HORSE SHOULD END UP ON THE END OF A BUTCHERS HOOK!!
Horse meat cannot be sold as food in theUnited States, but it can be exported. Attempts to reach Valley Meat Co via a number listed on-line were unsuccessful.
Valley Meat would be the first meat plant to be allowed to slaughter horses since Congress banned it in 2006.
It is not known when the plant will start production, but two bills in Congress want to ban horse slaughter and President Obama has asked Congress to ban it.
The Humane Society of the United States and Front Range Equine Rescuethreatened on Friday to sue the USDA, saying horses are raised as pets and as working animals. Because they are not intended as food animals, horses are given medications banned from other livestock, the groups said, questioning if the meat would be safe.
The USDA says it can test for residues of 130 pesticide and veterinary drugs. It also has safeguards to keep horse meat out of the food supply.
Congress effectively banned horse slaughter in 2006 by saying the USDA could not spend any money to inspect horse plants. Without USDA inspection, meat plants cannot operate.
The ban was part of the annual USDA funding bill and was renewed a year at a time through 2011. The prohibition expired in October 2011.
Lawmakers could vote on reinstating the ban in coming weeks when the USDA appropriations bills are debated in the House and Senate. But no date has been set to consider the bills and it could be months before work is completed.
The USDA said it was required by law to issue the grant of inspection because Valley Meat met all federal requirements. At one point, the company sued the USDA for an overly long review of its application. Once it issues a grant of inspection, the USDA is obliged to assign meat inspectors to a meat plant.
“Until Congress acts, the department must comply with current law,” said a USDA spokeswoman.
Valley Meat retrofitted its plant for horses after drought weakened its cattle slaughter business.
Horse meat is sold for human consumption in China, Russia, Mexico and other foreign nations and is sometimes used as feed for zoo animals.
But in the United States, horses enjoy a higher stature, more akin to house pets, than to hogs, cattle and chickens.
An estimated 130,000 U.S. horses are shipped annually to slaughter in Canada and Mexico. Groups have quarreled for a decade whether a ban on slaughter will save horses from a cruel death or lead to abandonment by owners of animals they cannot afford to feed or treat for illness.
Early this year, regulators discovered that horse meat was being sold as beef in Ireland. The mislabelled meat was found in meatballs sold by Swedish retailer IKEA in much of Europe and in other outlets.
IF YOU SCROLL FURTHER – GRAPHIC IMAGES ARE BELOW – VIEWER DISCRETION ADVISED
USDA conducts tests on domestic and imported products to identify the species that yielded the meat. The tests can distinguish beef, sheep, swine, poultry, deer and horse.
As well, USDA stepped up its species testing in April because of the meat adulteration scandal in Europe.
(Reporting By Charles Abbott; Editing by Bernard Orr)
******ACTION ALERT – CROSS POST FAR AND WIDE: CONTACT THE ASPCA EVERY DAY (212) 876-7700, ext. 4450*********** Are you tired of seeing exploited, overworked NYCcarriage horses hauling around callous tourists while dodging taxi cabs, buses and trucks?!
Are you tired of seeing the ASPCA counting their money while the NYC carriage horses continue to drop on the streets of Manhattan?! The holiday seasonis the busiest time of the year for the greedy and abusive carriage horse industry.
The ASPCA is supposed to monitor the carriage horses and ensure that the industry is following the city regulations. Where is the ASPCA? We have no idea.
Please contact them every day and ask them why they are not on the hack line monitoring the carriage horses who are being overworked during this busy holiday season.
Their phone number is (212) 876-7700, ext. 4450.
Please call them every day and ask them what they are doing to ban the carriage horse industry in NYC and remind them they need to be out there every day to monitor the horses and the drivers.
Yesterday afternoon, a six-year-old carriage horse named Oreo was spooked by a horn, broke free from his carriage and tore through dangerous NYC traffic for four blocks before being tranquilized and collapsing in front of horrified onlookers. Thankfully, Oreo is now recovering in his stable with minor scratches.
Even though you don’t live in New York City, you can still make a difference for the horses by sending a letter to City Council Speaker, Christine Quinn. Fill out the info below and click SUBMIT to tell Speaker Quinn that as a NYC visitor, you want humane electric cars, not carriage horse abuse!http://www.nyclass.org/contactquinn
FBI — WARNING — Federal law allows citizens to reproduce, distribute or exhibit portions of copyright motion pictures, video tapes, or video disks under certain circumstances without authorization of the copyright holder. This infringement of copyright is called fair use and is allowed for purposes of criticism, news reporting, teaching and parody.
Please watch the following, it’s the first time I have; it really gives a clear insight into this industry. It is very upsetting to all animal lovers, so I guess I must say view at own discretion. I am not as strong as my mum when it comes to watching videos where animals suffer; but I know she & other animal advocates do so to get the information out & educate people on the atrocities that occur, often right under our noses. Just watch as the people pass these noble steeds, as if they were nothing but ornamental decorations.
I have just come back from seeing to our 2 horses who live in luxury & want for nothing…so to see these beautiful horses, nose to tail with exhaust fumes, dodging traffic & idiotic humans is just heart-breaking! I have been to the horse sales with my mum & seen horses that are spent, from over breeding, horse racing, abusive owners & horses who are so lame from road founder, they can hardly stand! But I bet that’s nothing compared to the horse sales where NYC carriage horses end up. Those once noble beautiful horses, now reduced to pitiful sentient beings literally on their last legs…will have one last journey, to the slaughter house! Please say NO to this cruelty!
“Is it really so hard to walk into a shelter & say ‘please take my dog’ ? It must be, the amount of people who would rather tie up their pets & just leave…but remember, those that do will need to be forever looking over their shoulders for the Animal Cops…they will find you! So please, do yourself & the pet a favour & take them to a No Kill shelter…please!”
English: A German Shepherd dog Polski: Owczarek niemiecki (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Queens resident Crystal Lashley was charged with abusing her German shepherd mix Briana.
A Queens woman was busted after cruelly tying up her German shepherd mix in her backyard, where the sick animal was rescued from months of torture.
Jamaica resident Crystal Lashley, 18, was charged with animal cruelty after allegedly neglecting the 6-year-old female pooch.
The dog, named Briana, had a urinary tract infection and her collar had been choking her for so long, it caused the infected skin on her neck to grow around it, a source said.
When 8-year-old Neapolitan MastiffZoey was diagnosed in April with inoperable terminal kidney failure, her guardians, Roni and Elysia Amiel, made the difficult decision to keep her home to be surrounded by love and family in her final days.
Terminally ill Zoey, mistaken for abused
Zoey’s physical condition worsened rapidly and she lost a considerable amount of weight.
When a neighbour saw Zoey resting in the grass next to a lake near the Amiel’s house in June, the neighbour photographed her and called police, who dispatched animal control.
Upon finding the emaciated and weak Zoey with no collar or tags, theanimal control officer took her to a local animal hospital for assessment and treatment.
Devastatingly, the neighbour was unaware of who owned thedog, and Zoey was euthanized due to her poor health.
In the meantime, the photo of Zoey went viral online, and the Amiels are still enduring threats and harassment from hundreds of people who wrongly assume they’d neglected their dog.
They’re suffering from stress and fear over this treatment.
The animal control officer, after an investigation with the ASPCA, determined no abuse on the part of the Amiels.Sparta Police Sgt. John-Paul Beebe and vet records confirmed there were no medical options to save Zoey’s life.
A statement was issued from the police department yesterday in an effort to clear the Amiels of any wrongdoing:
“The Sparta Police Department has issued this news release as one means to correct a total misrepresentation of the circumstances surrounding the physical condition of this dog.This misrepresentation has led to the Amiel family being victimized, harassed and threatened by hundreds if not thousands of social network subscribers.”
A terrible misunderstanding took the life of this dog, robbed her family of a proper goodbye, and caused unjust harassment and threats against them.
The Department’s Detective Bureau is deciding if criminal harassment charges should be filed.
Our deepest condolences to the Amiels for losing their beloved Zoey. Word travels fast about abuse, and we’re hoping the truth of their innocence travels just as quickly.
“Why don’t they just give him the fighting ring back too…FxxxxxG Nob Heads…what does this say to others? It’s wrong, he should have been banned from having any animals for life”
Michael Vick, who served 18 months in federal prison on dogfighting charges but claims to have seen the error of his ways, is once again a dog owner, ABC News reports.
THIS MAN DOES NOT DESERVE TO HAVE ANOTHER SENTIENT BEING
Vick, who became an outspoken critic ofanimal cruelty following his release five years ago, said in a statement to ESPN:
I understand the strong emotions by some people about our family’s decision to care for a pet. As a father, it is important to make sure my children develop a healthy relationship with animals. I want to ensure that my children establish a loving bond and treat all of God‘s creatures with kindness and respect. Our pet is well cared for and loved as a member of our family.
This is an opportunity to break the cycle. To that end, I will continue to honor my commitment to animal welfare and be an instrument of positive change.
Vick, who was convicted in April of 2007 of running an illegal interstate dogfighting ring for over five years, was at the time quarterback of the Atlanta Falcons. Despite petitions urging the National Football League to banish Vick, he was never drummed out of the league. He was released however by the Falcons in 2008, losing his NFL salary and endorsement deals. But the following year he was signed by the Philadelphia Eagles and in July of 2011 signed a lucrative endorsement contract with sports gear maker Nike.
Not everyone accepted Vick’s professed contrition, and many now will be outraged by his return to the status of dog owner. The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals has expressed reservations, claiming Vick has never publicly shown remorse for killing dogs. In a statement, the ASPCA writes:
Because of this, we have serious concerns about Vick’s ability to be a responsible pet owner. We can only hope that he will set the right example for his children by teaching them to foster humane habits and a lifelong bond with their family pet.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — A judge took a bite out of a New Brighton felon, sentencinghim on Thursday to a year injail for maltreating twodogs, resulting in one’s death.
James E. Jones, 31, was sentenced to a year in jail after pleading guilty to torturing and injuring animals.
Last month, James E. Jones, 31, pleaded guilty in Stapleton Criminal Court to torturing and injuring animals, a misdemeanor.
Under his pleas, he was sentenced to concurrent one-year jail terms, said prosecutors. Jones also signed a $2,000 confession of judgment and will be forbidden from owning animals.
According to court papers, Jones owned the dogs — two brindle-and-white females — 1 and 3 years old, respectively, between Sept. 1, 2011, and Jan. 6 of this year.
He didn’t name the animals and kept them in a garage outside his home, said Joseph Pentangelo, an ASPCA spokesman.
Jones gave the dogs little food and water, he said.
Desperate for sustenance, the pit bulls resorted to eating anything they could chew to stay alive, said Pentangelo.
The ASPCA received an anonymoustip about the pit bulls’ condition and rescued them in January, he said.
The dogs were found to be “dehydrated, weak and emaciated,” according to court papers.
An examination revealed that both were eating “non-nutritive substances,” such as pieces of plastic, insulated wire and particulate matter, court documents state.
Laverne, the younger animal named by rescuers, didn’t survive, despite efforts to save her.
The older dog, christened Shirley, recovered.
Besides the animal cruelty charge, Jones pleaded guilty to obstructing governmental administration and resisting arrest, stemming from an unrelated July 25 arrest, said prosecutors
Defense lawyer Michael Gompers previously declined comment on the pleas.
Jones was previously convicted in the Bronx of attempted criminal weapon possession, a felony, and sentenced to 18 months in prison, according to online records of the state Department of Corrections and Community Supervision. He was released on parole in March 2004.
NEW YORK, SEPT. 13, 2012 — H.R. 6388 strengthens Horse Protection Act to better protect horses
The ASPCA® (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals®) today applauds Reps.Ed Whitfield (R-KY) and Steve Cohen (D-TN) for introducing legislation to amend the federalHorse Protection Act of 1970to eradicate the abusive practice of horse soring. H.R. 6388 will enhance theU.S. Department of Agriculture‘s (USDA) ability to enforce the Horse Protection Act by eliminating self-policing inspection practices, increasing penalties, and designating additional soring practices illegal.
Currently illegal under the Horse Protection Act, soring involves using painful chemicals and devices to inflict pain in horses to compel an exaggerated show-ring gait so desirable in the multimillion-dollar Tennessee Walking Horse industry.
“Soring is a particularly cruel form of abuse as the horses are forced to endure years of chronic pain throughout their show career,” said Nancy Perry, senior vice president of ASPCA Government Relations. “The Horse Protection Act was specifically enacted in 1970 to prohibit this abhorrent practice, and yet it continues to pervade the gaited horse industry four decades later. We thank Representatives Whitfield, Cohen, Schakowsky, and Moran for introducing legislation to protect these gentle animals and bring an end to horse soring.”
“Far too often, those involved in showing the Tennessee Walking Horse have turned a blind eye to abusive trainers, or when they do take action, the penalties are so minor, it does nothing to prevent these barbaric acts,” said. Rep. Whitfield. “This amendment does not cost the federal government any additional money and is essential in helping to put an end to the practice of soring Tennessee Walking Horses by abusive trainers.”
“In Tennessee, soring horses is illegal and unacceptable,” said Rep. Cohen. “Those responsible for abusing these horses should be punished severely and banned from the sport. How we treat animals is a direct reflection of our character, both as individuals and a nation. There is no ribbon, no prize nor championship worth the price of one’s humanity.”
The training method known as “soring” involves the deliberate application of pain-causing chemicals, cuts or foreign objects to a horse’s limbs or hoof pads to cause such agony to the animal’s front limbs that any contact with the ground forces the horse to fling its leg back up into the air. Additionally, trainers may attempt to mask soring by “stewarding” Tennessee Walking Horses, which conditions the horses to remain still by beating, torturing or burning them.
In 2010, the USDA Office of Inspector General (OIG) conducted an audit of the horse protection program, finding that trainers in the industry often go to great lengths to evade detection rather than comply with federal law and train their horses using humane methods. The OIG made severalrecommendations, including stiffer penalties and abolishing the self-policing practices currently allowed, where the Horse Industry Organizations are able to assign their own inspectors to horse shows.
H.R. 6388 will eliminate the current self-policing practices by requiring the USDA to assign a licensed inspector to a horse show. Second, it will prohibit the use of action devices on the various horse breeds that have frequently been the victims of soring. Action devices, such as chains that rub up and down an already sore leg, intensify the horse’s pain when it moves, so that the horse quickly jolts up its leg. Lastly, the amendment increases the penalties on an individual caught soring a horse.
For more information about the ASPCA’s efforts to protect horses and to join the ASPCA Advocacy Brigade, please visit www.aspca.org.
“It doesn’t matter how many times I watch this video, it always makes me cry! To purposely inflict pain on an animal, just to win a prize is sickening; its legal abuse, just like rodeos! Why hasn’t it been stopped before now, they know it’s still happening, the majority of punters know it happens…but it all boils down to money, & when animals are involved, it is they, who always pay the highest price! Corrupt judges, vets, trainers, handlers…from the top down, their all in on it…they are nothing but sad, evil greedy bxxxxxd’s!! (excuse my French).
“My horse went lame over the weekend…my daughter brought back video of her…I haven’t stopped crying since viewing it! Watching her try to walk on 3 legs, bless, she must have been in agony…it was bloody heartbreaking to see; I felt so useless not being able to get to her due to my usual pain! Anyhow, vet thinks she pulled her stifle muscle, so she is on box rest with medication for pain & swelling, which is gradually getting better daily…got vets bill yesterday… £328…I knew it would be high because it was an emergency call out, but it’s not about the money, as long as she will soon feel better & be back to her old cantankerous way’s…I don’t care how much it will cost!
“That’s what you do when you love your animals, I would sell the clothes off my back if need be, to pay for further treatment for her! Yet some turds in this industry purposely torture their horses, so they step higher, out of pain… just for a bloody rosette or tin cup!! They shouldn’t be anywhere near horses, or other animals for that matter…because they clearly don’t give 2 tits about them or their welfare, their only in it for the money they will make, out of the animals they abuse! So don’t ever believe them when they say ‘Oh, I just love my horse, he’s the best’… because their bloody lying!”
The Humane Society of the United States released undercover video on Thursday, May 17, 2012, of a Tennessee Walking Horse trainer in Middle Tennessee abusing the animals in order to accentuate their well-known high leg kick.
DUE TO THE NATURE OF THIS BLOG - SOME PICTURES & VIDEOS CAN & WILL BE VERY GRAPHIC - SO PLEASE, VIEW THIS BLOG AT YOUR OWN DISCRETION.
You can find out more about me & this blog by reading "ABOUT THIS BLOG" on the menu (when i finish it) lol
PLEASE NOTE.....
Not all of my posts will be current news, or even about animal abuse! I do like to share other animal news, uplifting stories or videos; some that are funny or just touch the heart!
If I have anything to say on any post, you will see it in bold blue writing. I try to remain a lady, but it's hard to contain my anger & emotions at the some of the stories I post; I don’t have a heart of stone, tears stain many articles I write!
Lastly, my apologies for any errors; I am learning whilst posting, so if you find anything that doesn't work or a broken link, sorry, I'm only human!!!!
ABOUT THESE POSTS
I would just like to make readers aware, that I search for stories on the internet; regards animal abuse etc. I copy stories etc. from the internet; assuming these stories are correct at time of publishing. Having said that, sometimes the press get it wrong! So I just want to add that at the time of me posting a news story, I presume all the facts seem present & correct.
Please note....all people mentioned in this blog, are presumed innocent, until proven otherwise, in a court of law.
Error: Please make sure the Twitter account is public.
Flag Counter Added May 2012
Face Book – Please Take Notice
For anyone wishing to connect to me via my Facebook page...PLEASE NOTE, ONLY PEOPLE I ADD AS ANIMAL ADVOCATES CAN SEE MY WHOLE PAGE...I do this out of respect for those friends I have who do not wish to see graphic images, videos or links of animal abuse!
As 99% of my page is animal related; anyone not in the above group of friends; will only see a limited amount of posts!!
DUE TO ANIMAL HATERS...I WILL ONLY ADD PEOPLE WHO CAN PROVE WHO THEY ARE via Facebook, Wordpress, Twitter etc. & WHO HAVE A GENUINE INTEREST IN ANIMAL WELFARE... i.e. if your Facebook page has absolutely nothing to do with animals, I see no point in joining my page. My Facebook is solely for animal welfare, I am not interested in playing games etc. I don't mean to sound rude but I am not interested in the amount of friends I have, its the quality of those friends that count.
PLEASE DO NOT SEND REQUESTS FOR YOUR FRIENDS TO JOIN. I do not want anyone to be upset by graphic images etc.
My aim is to educate & raise awareness to the horrors animals face, at the hands of humans, every day, around the world!!
We can not hope to achieve better laws, to protect animals, unless we unite as one, to speak up for those who are voiceless!!
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DUE TO THE NATURE OF THIS BLOG - SOME PICTURES & VIDEOS CAN & WILL BE VERY GRAPHIC - SO PLEASE, VIEW THIS BLOG AT YOUR OWN DISCRETION.
STOP ANIMAL ABUSE 
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