Appeals Court Vacates Ban on US Horse Slaughter

“THIS IS A DIFFICULT SUBJECT for me to discuss. I own horses & understand that due to overpopulation, lack of food or abandonment etc. it is causing welfare problems. Charities can’t protect every horse in need of a home, they will simply never have enough funds to protect them all. God…I wish they could, I hate to see horses or any animal for that matter suffer, no animal lover would want an animal to suffer unnecessarily. So to prevent this, if there is no other way possible to save them, I would prefer they were put out of their misery; in the kindest way possible & cremated.  Horses die from disease, injury or just old age & their bodies have to be dealt with whatever the circumstance.

“If owners are not permitted to dispose of the body themselves on their own land, which most aren’t; then the body (no matter how loved) has to be dealt with! I dread the day one of my horses dies or has to be put to sleep, but I don’t have land to bury them on or the required permission…it would literally break my heart, but I will have no option but to still call the knacker man (for want of a better word) to cremate the body & return the ashes to me, so I can do with them as I wish.”

“WHAT I  OPPOSE is the use of slaughterhouses TO KILL HEALTHY, ILL & ABUSED HORSES FOR FOOD & PROFIT! This planet already kills way too many animals to feed the population, some in the most barbaric, cheapest & despicable ways, with rife abuse & cruelty: which is why I don’t eat animals. Those who don’t own horses but own dogs, would find the practice of a slaughterhouse for dogs horrific & wouldn’t stand for it! Just as it is with horse owners/lovers… HORSES DO NOT BELONG ON THE MENU in this century or the next. By all means their bodies have to be dealt with…BUT NO HORSE SHOULD END UP ON A PLATE! Killing horses for their meat & profit alone is not justified; THOSE WHO WISH TO KILL HORSES FOR FOOD, ARE IN IT FOR THE MONEY, PURE GREED ALONE & IT IS THEY WHO SHOULD BE BANNED!!”

A federal appeals court on Friday removed a temporary ban on domestic horse slaughter, clearing the way for companies in New Mexico, Missouri and Iowa to open while an appeal of a lawsuit by animal protection groups proceeds.

The 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver lifted the emergency injunction it issued in November after The Humane Society of the United States and others appealed the ruling of a federal judge in Albuquerque. The judge said the U.S. Department of Agriculture followed proper procedure in issuing permits to Valley Meat Co. in Roswell, N.M., Rains Natural Meats of Gallatin, Mo., and Responsible Transportation in Sigourney, Iowa.

The appeals court’s order Friday said the groups had “failed to meet their burden for an injunction pending appeal.”

Blair Dunn, an attorney for Valley Meat and Rains Natural Meats, said the order lifts the emergency status of the case, meaning it will likely be months before a final decision is issued.

Dunn said the plants are ready to open, although they could agree to remain shuttered if the plaintiffs agree to post a sufficient bond to cover the companies’ losses should they ultimately prevail.

“They are getting ready to go as quickly as they can. It shouldn’t take too long. Not more than two weeks,” he said.

The Humane Society, however, said “the fight for America‘s horses is not over.”

“We will press for a quick resolution of the merits of our claims in the 10th Circuit,” said Jonathan R. Lovvorn, the group’s senior vice president of animal protection litigation and investigations.

The plants would become the first horse slaughterhouses to operate in the U.S. since 2007. Congress effectively banned horse slaughter by eliminating funding for inspections at the plants in 2006. It restored that funding in 2011, but the USDA did not approve the first permits for horse slaughterhouses until this summer.

The issue has divided horse rescue and animal welfare groups, ranchers, politicians and Indian tribes about what is the most humane way to deal with the country’s horse overpopulation, and what rescue groups have said are a rising number of neglected and starving horses as the West deals with persistent drought.

Valley Meat and Responsible Transportation were set to begin horse slaughter operations in August, but U.S. District Judge Christina Armijo blocked their plans while she heard the lawsuit by The Humane Society of the United States, Front Range Equine Rescue and others. The groups claimed the plants should have been forced to undergo environmental reviews under provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act.

Responsible Transportation abandoned its horse slaughter plans and converted its plant to cattle before Armijo dismissed the lawsuit in November.

Attorneys for the plants have argued that the plaintiffs are simply in court because they are morally opposed to horse slaughter and are looking for a way to delay the plants while they lobby Congress for a ban.

Proponents of a return to domestic horse slaughter point to a 2011 report from the federal Government Accountability Office that shows horse abuse and abandonment have increased since domestic horse slaughter was banned. They say it is better to slaughter the animals in humane, federally regulated facilities than have them abandoned to starve across the drought-stricken West or shipped to inhumane facilities in Mexico.

Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO of The Humane Society of the United States, calls the practice barbaric and has said blocking a return to domestic horse “is an issue of national importance and scale.”

News Link:–http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/appeals-court-vacates-ban-us-horse-slaughter-21216265

Pastor’s Animal Cruelty Trial Draws A Crowd

The misdemeanor trial of a pastor charged with animal cruelty in the death of a cat drew a crowd of 25 onlookers Monday, overshadowing the Bastrop County commissioners meeting next door.

The defendant, 56-year-old Rick Bartlett, the former pastor of Bastrop Christian Church, was the chaplain for the Bastrop Police Department at the time the cat died. The crowd in the courtroom

Rick Bartlett

included Sarah and Eddie Bell — owners of Moody, the dead cat — who are suing Bartlett for damages, and Sheila Smith who heads Shadow Cats, a Central Texas nonprofit cat rescue.

Bartlett, who had complained of strays in his neighborhood, trapped the cat and took it to the police department Jan. 17, 2012. Animal control officer Susan Keys pointed out that the cat had tags with the address and phone number for its owners, and offered to return it to them, an arrest affidavit says.

But Bartlett convinced Keys to allow him to return the cat. According to the affidavit, after Bartlett drove away Moody either fell or jumped out of the cage because the cage door had been left open.

Moody was found, badly injured, under the tall bridge over the Colorado River near downtown. Prosecutors allege Bartlett, who last had custody of Moody, was careless and charged him with animal cruelty, a Class A misdemeanor.

Bartlett had nothing to do with the cat’s death, his attorney said. A five-man, one-woman jury is deciding the case this week.

Keys, who no longer works with animal control, was one of the first witnesses. She testified that while she has no personal knowledge of how the cat ended up on a walking path in the park with serious injuries, she had last seen it with Bartlett, and she became suspicious of his story when questioning him two days later.

A former Bastrop pastor is on trial for animal cruelty in connection with the death of Moody, the cat.

“I trusted him to do that,” said Keys of allowing Bartlett to return the cat to its owners. Keys later went to the park in response to an injured animal call, and took the cat to a veterinarian’s office, where it died.

Keys testified she called Bartlett on Jan. 19 to ask if he knew what happened. “I asked him if he let the cat out of the trap. He said, ‘no.’ He said he went back to the church and it was ‘just gone.’

Keys said she turned the case over to police. “I became suspicious about him being honest,” she said. Under questioning by county prosecutor James Rhodes, Keys also said she learned that Bartlett changed his story when talking to police. “I did hear that,” she said. Defense attorney Chris Dillon objected to the statement as hearsay.

In his opening statement to the jury, Dillon said the cat was fine when Bartlett last saw it. “Rick came back to the church and parked in the shade to protect the cat. At about 1 p.m., he let the cat out of the cage. Three-and-a-half hours later the cat was found,” he said.

Testimony resumes Thursday morning. Dillon said Monday he had not decided whether Bartlett will take the stand.

News Link:–http://www.mystatesman.com/news/news/pastors-animal-cruelty-trial-draws-a-crowd/nXqXQ/?icmp=statesman_internallink_textlink_apr2013_statesmanstubtomystatesman_launch

Malnourished, Neglected Dog Recovering at Red Bank Animal Hospital: Second Dog Removed

A malnourished Cocker Spaniel is slowly recovering after he was turned into the Associated Humane Society in Tinton Falls last week, covered in urine and with his fur so matted together it could not stand.

Sammy

Samurai, affectionately known as Sammy, took his first steps Monday at the Red Bank Veterinary Hospital, where officials said he has also started eating on his own again.

Victor Amato, the chief humane law enforcement officer for the Monmouth County SPCA, said Sammy has attracted international attention after a Brick couple turned him in claiming they found him in a garbage bag on the side of the road.

Officials later learned that the couple had actually owned him for at least nine years.

Amato said hundreds of people have been calling from around the world to wish Sammy well and inquire about adopting him. Those calls have come in from as far away as England, Japan and Australia.

“This dog has become a celebrity,” Amato said. “[He still] has a lot of hurdles to overcome.”

Sammy after his bath & clip

Amato said if Sammy does survive, the biggest problem would be determining who gets to adopt him.

Hospital officials call Amato every two hours with updates on Sammy, and Amato has also had several opportunities to see the dog, which is estimated to be 13 or 14 years old.

Keith Morgan, 56, and Shauna Ewing Morgan, 43, both of Brick, were charged with several counts of animal cruelty, Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office spokesman Charles Webster said Monday.

Sammy

Keith Morgan was charged in Tinton Falls with animal cruelty by abandonment of a sick or maimed animal and filing a false report with law enforcement. He was also charged in Brick with interfering with an investigation and animal cruelty by failure to provide sustenance and causing unnecessary suffering.

Shauna Ewing Morgan was charged in Tinton Falls with animal cruelty by abandonment of a sick or maimed animal and in Brick with animal cruelty by failure to provide sustenance and causing unnecessary suffering.

The couple was issued a disorderly persons summons and faces a maximum of six months in jail and $1,000 fine on each count.

News Link:-http://www.nj.com/monmouth/index.ssf/2013/03/video_photos_malnourished_neglected_dog_recovering_at_red_bank_animal_hospital.html#incart_river

Second dog removed from Brick couple accused of animal abuse

Ady was signed over to the Monmouth County SPCA on Thursday

BRICK – A second dog was removed Thursday from the house of a Brick couple facing animal cruelty charges after authorities said they neglected their other dog.

The dog removed Thursday, a three-year-old Cocker Spaniel named Ady, was discovered at the house after an anonymous tip to authorities, said Victor Amato, chief humane law enforcement officer for the Monmouth County SPCA. The couple signed the dog over to the SPCA.

Amato said the dog was recently groomed and in better condition than the one the couple brought into Associated Humane Society in Tinton Falls last week.

Read more:-http://www.nj.com/monmouth/index.ssf/2013/03/second_dog_removed_from_brick_couple_accused_of_animal_abuse.html

Poodle Gets Makeover, Chance At New Life

“OMG…a Poodle…it looks more like an alien! This is shocking & has infuriated the hell out of me! I’m sick of seeing instances like this. That poor girl must have been in agony, carrying those massive locks of matted hair around. Why for the love of God, does somebody get a dog like this & not brush it weekly?? I just don’t understand the mentality of some people…do they really look at the dog & think it’s ok? well they must do; or else we wouldn’t keep seeing dogs in such appalling conditions!”

“All I can say is thank the Lord she was rescued, had she not been; I fear her life would have ended sooner & in a severe amount of pain too! But I have to ask, why the hell was this person not prosecuted for this? Just because they allowed the dog to be surrendered, does not excuse them, when all it needed was a daily quick brush; it just sheer bloody laziness!

“Ok, those that surrender due to unforeseen circumstances, who have not caused the animal any pain or neglected it in any way; no, don’t punish the responsible owners!”

 “I say, punish those who surrender an animal, that has obviously been neglected, abused or cruelly treated; like this poor girl, looks like she had been neglected for a very long time, if not her whole life; her owners should still be prosecuted!! Had they not surrendered her, they would have eventually had the dog taken off them & have been prosecuted…in these cases, it just doesn’t seem fair. These owners get off Scott free; & still have the luxury of buying further animals if they so wish! No, the law needs to be changed to reflect the difference in circumstances when surrendered!!”

“Why the hell get a dog, who’s coat is going to need attention if you have no intention of either keeping it clean & brushed yourself; or sending it to a fur dresser? I’m sorry but I have little sympathy with those who say, I couldn’t do it, or couldn’t afford to send to a fur dresser…that is no excuse. God chose to give humans a voice, so they should bloody well use it. Surely they could ask the local shelter or somebody to help, but far too many times the owner doesn’t say anything!! I don’t know how they can look at their pets & think every is fine or just pretend everything is hunky dory! “

“If a murderer handed himself in, should that mean he doesn’t have to pay for his crime? No, he will still be punished…what’s the difference??

“I have Yorkshire Terrier’s whose hair, I believe is the most similar to human hair, it certainly grows like human hair & they don’t moult. In the summer, they have their coats cut fairly short; which is much easier to maintain. But it gets still gets knotted if not brushed; for easiness on my part, they have 2 brushes, one is kept in the pocket of my wheelchair, the other next to my bed; so wherever I am, they get brushed until they decide to run off. However, during the winter I let their coats grow to keep them warm; & although they are still bathed & brushed every month, like in summer…they both still go to the fur dresser  every 12 weeks. Why? well the main reason is their hair needs to be cut around their faces, nails trimmed & anal glands seen to! Plus they both have needle sharp teeth; I only have 2 hands & rather like the 10 fingers I have…so it’s best left to the professionals!!

DENTON (CBSDFW.COM) – Animal shelter volunteers in Denton have rescued a neglected 14-year-old poodle and are hoping to soon give her a new life.

Ginger as she was brought in

Ginger was rescued from a hoarding situation in Denton when her owner decided to give her up in hoping someone would provide a better home.

“Her hair was matted so badly that it was matted into her mouth,” said Stacy Smith with the Humane Society of Flower Mound. “There’s still hair that we’re not able to get out of her teeth until we’re able to put her under anesthesia.”

Smith says doctors have treated Ginger for dehydration, though other health concerns remain according to the shelter Facebook page.

“She has a heart murmur and is running a fever–no surprise she has an infection going on so she got a shot and we’ll run bloodwork tomorrow when she is rehydrated a bit.”

Ginger after being shaved, bless her!

Ginger has so far eaten a big meal of specially prepared food and is resting comfortably.

People can follow Ginger’s progress at #gingerthepoodle on twitter.

News Link & Audio file:-http://dfw.cbslocal.com/2013/02/08/poodle-gets-makeover-chance-at-new-life/#photo-2